Electrochemistry CSE
Electrochemistry CSE
NOTE:
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
Introduction
“It is a branch of chemistry that deals with the inter conversion of chemical and electrical
energies.”
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Electrochemical cells: The device which converts chemical energy to electrical energy or
vice versa.
Electrode: An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a non-
metallic part of circuit.
Anode: It is the electrode at which oxidation occurs.
Cathode: It is the electrode at which reduction occurs.
Redox reaction: A chemical reaction in which both oxidation and reduction reaction
occur simultaneously.
Additional Info:
Conductors
− Metal ions in the solution may undergo reduction and get deposited as metal
atoms on the metal surface (electrode surface).
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− When a metal undergoes oxidation, it loses positive ions in to solution leaving
behind a layer of negative charges on its surface. This layer attracts positive
charges and form electrical double layer, also called as Helmholtz electrical double
layer.
− The resultant potential difference between the electrode (metal) and the solution
is termed as electrode potential.
Standard electrode potential: The potential developed at the interface between the metal
and the solution when it is in contact with a solution of unit concentration at 298 K at 1
atm pressure is called standard electrode potential.
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At anode, Zinc undergoes oxidation as follows:
(Cu2+ ions present in the solution combine with the electrons forming Cu atoms,
which are then deposited on electrode)
The net chemical change taking place is,
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E⁰cell = Eright – Eleft
E⁰cell = E⁰cathode - E⁰anode
NOTE:
1. Electrode potential is the potential difference at the interface of metal (electrode)
and solution.
2. Cell potential (Emf) is the potential difference between two electrodes.
NERNST EQUATION
− The electrode potential is calculated by Nernst equation.
− It gives a quantitative relationship between the electrode potential and the
concentration of metal ions.
Converting to log,
2.303𝑅𝑇 [M]
𝐸 = 𝐸0 − log
𝑛𝐹 [M n+ ]
But for pure solids (product), [M(s)] = 1
Therefore,
2.303𝑅𝑇 1
𝐸 = 𝐸0 − log
𝑛𝐹 [M n+ ]
By rearranging,
2.303𝑅𝑇
𝐸 = 𝐸0 + log [M n+ ]
𝑛𝐹
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T = 298 K These are constant values
F = 96, 500 C/mol
Therefore, applying these values in the above formula,
0.0591
𝐸 = 𝐸0 + log [M n+ ] at 298 K
𝑛
NERNST EQUATION:
2.303𝑅𝑇 1 2.303𝑅𝑇
𝐸 = 𝐸0 − log or 𝐸 = 𝐸0 + log [M n+ ]
𝑛𝐹 [Mn+ ] 𝑛𝐹
0
2.303𝑅𝑇 [anode]
𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 = 𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 − log
𝑛𝐹 [cathode]
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M1/M1n+// M2n+/M2
− Concentration and state [solid (s), gas (g), etc] of chemical species are expressed
within the brackets
Example: Cell reaction –
NOTE: The potential of individual half cell cannot be measured but only the difference
between the two half cell potentials can be measured which is the emf of the cell.
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Types of Electrochemical cells:
Electrochemical
Cell
Chemical Concentration
cell cell
Secondary
Primary cell
cell
1. Electrolytic cell: These are the electrochemical cells which are used to convert electrical
energy to chemical energy.
Eg: Electroplating, electrorefining
2. Galvanic cell:
− Also called as voltaic cell
− Convert chemical energy in to electrical energy
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− Eg: Dry cell, Zn-HgO cell, Zn-Ag2O cell, etc.
II. Secondary cells:
− These are the electrochemical cells which can be charged and used.
− The cell reactions are reversible and hence called as reversible cells.
− During discharging, these cells act as voltaic cells by converting chemical energy
in to electrical energy.
− During charging, these cells act as electrolytic cell by converting electrical energy
in to chemical energy.
− Eg: Ni-MH cell (Nickel-metal hydride cell), Lithium-ion cells
Concentration Cell:
It is a type of galvanic cell in which electrode and electrolyte present in both half cells are
same but only the concentration of metal (electrode) or electrolyte is different.
− A concentration cell is made up of two half cells having identical electrodes except
that the concentration of ions at the electrodes are different.
− The half-cell may be joined by salt bridge.
− There is no net cell reaction in concentration cell.
− In galvanic cell, emf arises due to the change in the free energy of the chemical
reaction taking place in the cell. But in concentration cell, emf arises due to the
change in the concentration of either electrolytes or electrodes.
− Eg: Copper concentration cell, Zinc concentration cell, etc.
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“The electrode which is dipped in less concentrated solution (C1) act as anode with lower
potential and undergoes oxidation. The electrode which is dipped in higher concentration
(C2) acts as cathode with higher potential and undergoes reduction”.
Concentration cell is represented as,
M/Mn+(C1)//Mn+(C2)/M
Because both the half-cells are made of same electrode, E⁰cell (standard emf) for
concentration cell is zero. Nernst equation for electrolyte concentration cell is,
0
2.303𝑅𝑇 [M n+ at cathode]
𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 = 𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 + log
𝑛𝐹 [M n+ at anode]
But, E⁰cell = E⁰cathode - E⁰anode = 0
Therefore,
2.303𝑅𝑇 [M n+ at cathode]
𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 = 0 + log
𝑛𝐹 [M n+ at anode]
2.303𝑅𝑇 C2
𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 = log
𝑛𝐹 C1
OR
0.0591 [cathode]
𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 = log at 298K
𝑛 [anode]
REFERENCE ELECTRODE
Definition: Reference electrodes are the electrodes with reference to which the electrode
potential of any other electrode can be measured.
Criteria for an electrode to act as reference electrode:
i. Its electrode potential should be known under the conditions of utility.
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ii. The potential of such electrode should show minimum variation with respect to
temperature.
Limitations of SHE:
a) Construction and maintenance is difficult since it’s a gas electrode.
b) Pt metal used in the electrode is easily poisoned by any impurity present in the system.
c) Cannot be used in the presence of oxidizing agents like nitrates, H2S, chlorides, etc. as
they poison Pt.
d) Difficulty in maintaining pressure at 1 atm.
Advantages:
a) Easy to set up and operate.
b) Potential values do not vary much with variation in temperature.
c) Not poisoned by oxidizing impurities.
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− It is also called as Mercury (Hg)-Mercurous chloride (Hg2Cl2).
Construction:
Pt wire
Calomel paste
Mercury
Saturated KCl
Porous disc
− It consists of a glass tube in which pure mercury (Hg) is placed at the bottom.
− It is covered by a paste of Hg and mercurous chloride (Hg2Cl2) which is further in
contact with KCl solution.
− Hg2Cl2 is commonly called as calomel and it is sparingly soluble in water.
− A platinum wire is dipped in the mercury layer, which is used to make electrical
contact with other electrode and to measure potential at the electrode.
− KCl solution used in calomel electrode is of known concentration.
− Electrode potential of the cell depends upon the concentration of KCl used.
Working: Calomel electrode can be used as cathode or anode depending upon the nature
of the other electrode of the cell.
The reversible reactions are:
− The electrode reactions are reversible w.r.t. Cl- ions. In other words the potential
of calomel electrode depends on the concentration of chloride ions.
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− Nernst equation for calomel electrode is given as:
0
2.303𝑅𝑇
𝐸𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑙 = 𝐸𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑙 − log [Cl− ]2
𝑛𝐹
Applications:
a) It is used as secondary reference electrode in the measurement of single electrode
potential.
b) It is the most commonly used reference electrode in all potentiometric determinations.
Types of electrodes:
1. Metal-Metal ion electrode
− These electrodes consist of a metal dipped in a solution of its own ions.
− Eg: Zn/Zn2+, Zinc rod dipped in zinc sulphate solution.
Cu/Cu2+, Copper rod dipped in copper sulphate solution.
− These electrodes are reversible with respect to cations.
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− Also called as metal-metal salt ion electrode.
− In this electrode, a metal is in contact with its insoluble salt, which is dipped in a
solution of soluble salt having an ion common with insoluble salt.
− Potential arises due to oxidation of metal to its insoluble salt or reduction of
insoluble salt of metal.
− These electrodes are used as secondary reference electrode.
− Eg: a) Calomel electrode: Hg/Hg2Cl2/Cl-
b) Silver-silver chloride electrode: Ag/AgCl/ Cl-
c) Lead-lead sulphate electrode: Pb/PbSO4/SO42-
3. Gas electrode
− In these electrodes, gas (H2 or O2 or Cl2) is continuously bubbled through a
solution of its corresponding ions (OH- or H+ or Cl-) using an inert metal like Pt
or Au.
− Metal provides an electrical contact
− Eg: a) H2 electrode: Pt/H2/H+
b) Chlorine electrode: Pt/Cl2/Cl-
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5. Amalgam electrode
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Glass pH Electrode
− Glass electrode or pH electrode is the electrode which is selective towards H+ ions
in the solution containing a mixture of ions.
− It is used in the measurement of concentration of H+ ions (pH) in the solution.
− When two solutions of different pH values are separated by a thin glass
membrane, there develops a potential difference between the two surfaces of the
membrane.
Construction:
0.1 M HCl
Ag-AgCl electrode
H+ ion
Glass electrode
− Glass electrode is a long glass tube with a glass membrane bulb at the bottom.
− Glass membrane is made up of silicate with composition: SiO2 (72%), Na2O (22%)
and CaO (6%).
− The thickness of glass membrane varies from 0.03-0.1 mm.
− Ag/AgCl electrode is immersed in 0.1 M HCl, is used as internal reference
electrode to measure the boundary potential.
− The metal is also used for making electrical contact with other electrodes.
Cell representation:
Ag(s)/AgCl(s)/HCl(0.1M)/glass membrane
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Working:
− The boundary potential (Eb = E2-E1) arises due to the difference in concentration of
H+ ions inside and outside the glass bulb.
− Boundary potential is given by the equation:
0.0591 [C2 ]
Eb = E2-E1 = log
𝑛 [C1 ]
where C1 and C2 are the concentration of inner and outer acid solutions.
0.0591 0.0591 1
EG = log[C2 ] + log + 𝐸𝐴𝑔/𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙 + 𝐸𝐴𝑠𝑦𝑚
𝑛 𝑛 [C1 ]
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0.0591
EG = log[C2 ] + 𝐸𝐺0
𝑛
0.0591 1
Where, 𝐸𝐺0 = log [C ] + 𝐸𝐴𝑔/𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙 + 𝐸𝐴𝑠𝑦𝑚 and n=1
𝑛 1
EG = 𝑬𝟎𝑮 − 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝟗𝟏 𝒑𝑯
electrode
Solution of
unknown pH
EMF of the above cell i.e. Ecell when immersed in a solution of unknown pH is,
ECell = ECathode - EAnode
ECell = EG - ESCE
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ECell = E⁰G - 0.0591 pH - ESCE
Cell reaction:
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EMF of the cell:
2.303𝑅𝑇 [M n+ at cathode]
𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 = log
𝑛𝐹 [M n+ at anode]
𝑬𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐 𝑽
2. EMF of the cell Cu/CuSO4 (0.01)//CuSO4 (X)/Cu at 300 K is 0.015 V. Find the
concentration of copper sulphate at cathode.
Solution: EMF of a concentration cell is given by
2.303𝑅𝑇 [M n+ at cathode]
𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 = log
𝑛𝐹 [M n+ at anode]
Ecell x n x F
[Cu2+ at cathode] = [Cu2+ at anode] x Antilog
2.303 x R x T
0.015 x 2 x 96500
[Cu2+ at cathode] = 0.01 x Antilog
2.303 x 8.314 x 300
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Solution: [𝐂𝐝𝟐+ 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐞] = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟗 𝑴
8. In a spontaneous galvanic cell, M/Mn+(0.03 N) // Mn+(0.064 N)/M develops an EMF of
0.013V at 25 ⁰C. Calculate the valency of metal.
Solution: EMF of a concentration cell is given by
0.0591 [cathode]
𝐸𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 = log
𝑛 [anode]
0.0591 [0.064]
0.013 = log
𝑛 [0.03]
0.0591 [0.064]
𝑛= log
0.013 [0.03]
𝒏 = 𝟏. 𝟓
2. Find the value of X in the concentration cell Cd/CdSO4 (0.0093M)// CdSO4 (XM)/Cd, EMF
= 0.086V at 25 ⁰C and write the cell reactions.
References
1. Basuchandra’s Engineering Chemistry
2. Engineering Chemistry by Jain & Jain
3. Engineering Chemistry: Fundamentals and Applications by Shikha Agarwal
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