ACTIVITY 1

Galvanic Cells

Group 4
Gayos, Kyla Mae K.
Generoso, Airis Gianinna A.
Gonzales, Athina Mari M.
Q2A1

Submitted to:
Sir Edward Gonzales

December 2, 2019
 I. Introduction

​ xidation-reduction reaction drives any electrochemical processes wherein electrons

O
flow from one chemical substance to another. When electrons are transferred from an
oxidized substance to the one being reduced, this is where redox reaction occurs. The
substance that loses electrons is the reductant and is also the ones oxidized while the
substance that gains electrons is the oxidant and is also the ones reduced.

Electrochemical cell is an apparatus which is used to generate electricity from a

spontaneous redox reaction or which uses electricity to drive nonspontaneous reaction.
One of the types of electrochemical cell is the galvanic cell. Galvanic (voltaic) cell
generates electricity using the energy from the spontaneous reaction. At one electrode
(the anode) is where the oxidation half-reaction occurs, and at the other (the cathode)
the reduction half-reaction. A salt bridge serves as a tool to balance and maintain the
charges because electrons move from one half cell to another. The electron potential,
measured in volts, is identified by getting the difference of the electron potential of the
two-half reactions and is connected with the energy required to move the particles from
one another. A voltmeter is used to measure the voltage while it is connected between
the half cells (anode and cathode).

II. Objectives

1. To observe the reactions that produce electricity and measure.

2. To measure the potential produced when two half-cells are combined to
form electrochemical cells.
3. To observe and analyze the change in concentrations on cell potential.

III. Materials and Reagents

Materials
50-ml beaker

Sandpaper

U-tube
Metal strips

Aspirator

Voltmeter
 Alligator Clips

Tweezers

Reagents
0.1 M CuSO4 solution, 1 M CuSO4 solution, 0.1 M N a2 SO4 solution, 1 M AlC 3 solution,
1M M gSO4 solution
Procedure

1. Obtain 3 rectangular pieces (strips)

of metal (Cu, Al, Mg)

2. Clean the metal strips using

sandpaper. The metals must also
be thoroughly cleaned before and
after each use.

3. Transfer 20 mL of CuSO4 solution

in a 50-ml beaker. Place the Cu
strip into the CuSO4 solution. You
just created a half cell. Do likewise
with each of the 2 metal ion
solutions and metal strips to create
Al and Mg half cells.
4. Transfer about 25 mL of 1 M
N a2 SO4 solution into the U-tube.
Roll and flatten a piece of cotton/
filter paper. Using a tweezer soak
the strips of the cotton in 1 M
N a2 SO4 solution. These will serve
as your salt bridges. Then connect
the Cu and Al half cells with a salt
bridge by placing one end of your
salt bridge into each half cell.

5. Measure the potential of the cell by

connecting the metals to the
electrodes of a voltmeter using
alligator clips to obtain a good
reading.

6. On your data sheet, identify the

metal strips that serve as the
cathode and anode.
 7. Measure the potential of all
possible combinations such as Cu
to Cu, and Cu to Mg using the
same method as above.

IV. Results and Discussion

A. Measurement of Cell Potentials

Galvanic Cell Measured Anode Equation for Cathode Equation for

Potential anode reaction cathode
reaction

Al | Al⁺³ (1 M) ​|| 0.88 V Al Al³⁺ + 3e⁻ ⇋ Cu Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ ⇋

Cu⁺² (1 M) | Cu Al₍ ₎ Cu₍ ₎

Mg | Mg⁺² (1 M) ​|| 1.88 V Mg Mg²⁺ + 2e⁻ ⇋ Cu Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ ⇋

Cu⁺² (1 M) | Cu Mg₍ ₎ Cu₍ ₎

Phase boundary Fe Fe⁺² + 2e⁻ ⇋ Cu Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ ⇋

Fe₍ ₎ Cu₍ )

B. Concentration Effects
 Galvanic Cell Voltage Reading

Cu | Cu⁺² (0.1 M) ​|| ​Cu⁺² (1 M) | Cu 0.001 V

C. Computations

For Aluminum and Copper

Al | Al⁺³ (1 M) ​|| ​Cu⁺² (1 M) | Cu

Thermodynamics:

3 Cu⁺² + 2 Al₍ ₎ ⇋ 3 Cu₍ ₎ + 2 Al⁺³

E° cathode = Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ ⇋ Cu₍ ₎ E° = 0.337

E° anode = Al³⁺ + 3e⁻ ⇋ Al₍ ₎ E° = - 1.662

Formula:

0.0592
E° − number of electrons
log Q

0.0592 1
E° cathode = 0.337 − 2
log [Cu²⁺]
0.0592 1
= 0.337 − 2
log 1
​ = ​0.337 V

0.0592 1
E° anode = − 1.662 − 2
log [Al³⁺]
0.0592 1
= − 1.662 − 2
log 1
​ =​ -1.662 V

E° cell = E° cathode - E° anode

E° = 0.337 - (-1.662)
E° = 1.999 V

Equilibrium:

0.0592 1 0.0592 1
0.337 - (-1.662) = − 2
log [Cu²⁺] = − 2
log [Al³⁺]
6(0.337−(−1.662)) 1 1
0.0592
= log [Cu²⁺]
+ log [Al³⁺]

6(0.337−(−1.662)) 1
0.0592
= log [Cu²⁺] [Al³⁺]

6(0.337−(−1.662))
0.0592
= log [[Cu²⁺]
Al³⁺]
= log Keq

6(0.337−(−1.662)) 2.002 − (−9.972)

Keq = 0.0592
= 0.0592
= 202.6013514 log Keq

Keq = antilog ( 202.6013514 ) = ​When we computed for its antilog, it resulted to

math error.

For Magnesium and Copper

Mg | Mg⁺² (1 M) ​|| ​Cu⁺² (1 M) | Cu

Thermodynamics:

E° cathode = Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ ⇋ Cu₍ ₎ E° = 0.337

E° anode = Mg²⁺ + 2e⁻ ⇋ Mg₍ ₎ E° = - 2.363

Formula:

0.0592
E° − number of electrons
log Q

0.0592 1
E° cathode = 0.337 − 2
log [Cu²⁺]
0.0592 1
= 0.337 − 2
log 1
​ = ​0.337 V

0.0592
E° anode = E° − number of electrons
log Q

0.0592 1
E° cathode = − 2.363 − 2
log [M g²⁺]
0.0592 1
= − 2.363 − 2
log 1
​ =​ -2.363 V

E° cell = E° cathode - E° anode

E° = 0.337 - (-2.363)
E° = 2.7 V
Equilibrium:

0.0592 1 0.0592 1
0.337 - (-2.363) = − 2
log [Cu²⁺] = − 2
log [M g²⁺]

2(0.337−(−2.363)) 1
0.0592
= log [Cu²⁺]
+ log [M 1g²⁺]

2(0.337−(−2.363)) 1
0.0592
= log [Cu²⁺] [M g²⁺]

2(0.337−(−2.363))
0.0592
= log [ [Cu²⁺]
M g²⁺]
= log Keq

2(0.337−(−2.363)) 0.674 − (−4.726) 5.4

Keq = 0.0592
= 0.0592
= 0.0592
= 91.21621622 log Keq

Keq = antilog ( 91.21621622) = 1.645190588 x 1091

For Iron and Copper

There is no available reagent in the data, it does not contain measured

potential which needs to compare to the solved thermodynamics and equilibrium.

For Copper and Copper

E° cathode = Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ ⇋ Cu₍ ₎ E° = 0.337

E° anode = Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ ⇋ Cu₍ ₎ E° = 0.337
Formula:

0.0592
E° − number of electrons
log Q

0.0592 1
E° cathode = 0.337 − 2
log [Cu²⁺]
0.0592 1
= 0.337 − 2
log 1
​ = ​0.337 V

0.0592 1
E° anode = 0.337 − 2
log [Cu²⁺]
= 0.337 − 0.0592
2
1
log 0.1
​ = ​0.3074 V
E° cell = E° cathode - E° anode
E° = 0.337 - 0.3074
E° = 0.0296 V

Equilibrium:

0.0592 1 0.0592 1
0.337 - 0.337 = − 2
log [Cu²⁺] = − 2
log [Cu²⁺]

2(0.337−0.337) 1 1
0.0592
= log [Cu²⁺]
+ log [Cu²⁺]

2(0.337−0.337) 1
0.0592
= log [Cu²⁺] [Cu²⁺]

2(0.337−0.337)
0.0592
= log [[Cu²⁺]
Cu²⁺]
= log Keq

2(0.337−0.337) 0.674 − 0.674 0

Keq = 0.0592
= 0.0592
= 0.0592
= 0 log Keq

Keq = antilog (0) = ​0

Discussion:

In the data shown above, it shows that the cathode is always in the right side of a
salt bridge and in its phase boundary while anode is always on the left side. In copper
and Aluminum, Copper is on the right side because its in the right side of the salt bridge
and in the phase boundary which it considers as the cathode. On the other hand,
Aluminum is in the left side of the salt bridge and phase boundary which it considers as
the anode. The measured potential of it is at 0.88V and it has error in the reagents used
and in putting reagents for salt bridging that leads to wrong reading on the voltmeter.
Since the measured potential is not theoretically correct, the group computes the
thermodynamics as well as the equilibrium. The computation of Aluminum and Copper
has 1.999 V and the equilibrium is at a high answer which the calculator cannot
calculate because of its big amount. The group compared the results of it and see that
the computation and measured potential are different. In Magnesium and Copper,
Magnesium will act as anode while Copper is the cathode. Since Copper has a positive
charge and also in the right side of the salt bridge while Magnesium has a negative
charge that serves as the left side of the salt bridge. Again, the results of the reading is
far from the computation and the cause of it are the same in Aluminum and Copper.
The computations shows that Magnesium and Copper has a 2.7 V and the equilibrium
is at 1.645190588 x 1091 . In Iron and Copper, the group did not compute and measured
because there is no available reagent and the professor told the students that they
should not compute its thermodynamics and equilibrium because there is comparing in
the measured potential. Lastly, the Copper and Copper resulted as expected. The
voltage reading of it is at 0.001V in the computation the thermodynamics of it at 0.0246
V and the Equilibrium is 0 because it uses the same element/compound which they are
both positively charged and at the same time Salt bridge is used to neutralize two
elements or compound that there charge is neutral. In addition, the equation used in
thermodynamics is the Nernst Equation.

V. Conclusion

In the galvanic cell, the cathode considers in the right side of the salt bridge and
phase boundary while the anode considers as the left side of the salt bridge and phase
boundary. It also says that t​he anode is considered negative and the cathode is
considered positive. This seems reasonable as the anode is the source of electrons and
cathode is where the electrons flow. In addition, Galvanic cell utilizes the ability to
separate the flow of electrons in the process of oxidation and reduction, causing a half
reaction and connecting each with a wire so that a path can be formed for the flow of
electrons through such wire. This flow of electrons is essentially called a current. Such
current can be made to flow through a wire to complete a circuit and obtain its output in
any device such as a television or a watch. Salt bridge is important because it maintains
the electric neutrality. Without it, there will be no chemical reaction and it would end.
Galvanic cell is used everyday and it is used in batteries. The batteries that Galvanic
cell where functioned in the ​Leclanché Dry Cell​, Button batteries, Lithium-Iodine battery,
Nickel–Cadmium (NiCad) Battery,​ and Lead-acid (Lead Storage) Battery. In addition,
Fuel cells uses Galvanic cell because it requires a constant external supply of reactants
since the products of the reaction are continuously removed.

References
https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/University_of_California_Davis/UCD_Chem_002C/U
CD_Chem_2C%3A_Larsen/Text/Unit_1%3A_Electrochemistry/1.1%3A_Galvanic_Cells
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(
Analytical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry/Exemplars/Commercial_Galvanic_Cells