Module 1

ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND CORROSION SCIENCE

MODEL QUESTIONS

1. Calculate the equilibrium constant for the following reaction at 250C:-

Fe(s) +Cu 2+ (aq) = Fe2+ (aq) + Cu (s) Given E0 Fe 2+ /Fe= -0,44 V, E0 Cu 2+ /Cu =0.34 V

2. Give the electrochemical reaction taking place when an iron nail is dipped in dil.HCl. E0 Fe 2+ /Fe= -
0,44 V, E0 Fe 3+ /Fe= -0,04 V, E0 H + /H2= 0 V.
3. a) Explain the construction and working of a calomel electrode as a reference electrode. What is the
variation in the potential of a calomel electrode with change in chloride ion concentration?
b) Why Mg corrodes in both acidic and alkaline oxygen deficient conditions, whereas Fe does not
corrode in alkaline oxygen deficient condition? Mg2++ 2e→Mg, E 0 = -2.36 V, Fe2++ 2e→Fe, E 0 = -
0.44 V, H+ +e→½H2, E 0 =0V
4. a) Write the construction, working, and advantages of Li-ion cell.

b) What are the products of electrolysis at cathode and anode when NaCl solution is electrolyzed using
Cu electrodes. Na+ + e → Na, E0=-2.71V, Cu2++2e→Cu, E0=0.34V,
Cl2+ 2e→ 2Cl- ,E 0 = 1.36 V , H+ +e→½H2, E= -0.41 V (at pH=7), O2+2H2O+ 4e→ 4OH- , E=
0.82V pH=7)
5. Compare electrolytic and electrochemical cells.
6. Write the cell reactions, cell representation and calculate the standard EMF of the cell formed by
silver and aluminium electrodes. E0 Ag+/Ag= 0.8V, E0 Al3+/Al=-1.66.
7. Illustrate the applications of electrochemical series with suitable examples.
8. Describe the methods of cathodic protection.
9. What is galvanic series? How is galvanic series advantageous over electrochemical series in corrosion
chemistry?
10. Why full charging is not allowed in Li-ion cell?
11.a) Derive Nernst equation and apply it for the emf of Daniel cell.
b) How is electroless copper plating done? Write the reactions involved. Give any two applications of
it.
12. a) With the help of electrochemical equations, show that rusting of iron is more severe in oxygen
rich acidic medium than alkaline medium.
b) A glass electrode- calomel electrode assembly shows an emf of 212 mV with pH= 4 buffer
solution and -30mV with pH= 9.2 buffer solution. Find the pH of the test solution if it shows an
emf of 120 mV. Also find E0G if ESCE = 0.2422V.

1
13. How is Helmholtz electrical double layer formed?
14. Calculate the single electrode potential of dichromate electrode at 250C when [Cr2O72- ] is 0.3M,
[Cr3+] is 0.02M and [H+ ] is 1M. Given: Cr2O72- + 14 H++6e → 2Cr3+ +7H2O ; E0 = 1.33 V
15. a) How is glass electrode used in determining the pH of a solution? What are the advantages and
limitations of a glass electrode?
16. b) Emf of an electrochemical cell is 1.5175 V at 200C and 1.5213 V at 350C.If the cell reaction
involve 2 electrons, find the standard emf of the cell and the reaction quotient.
17. How will you determine the standard electrode potential of Fe/Fe2+ electrode using calomel
electrode?
18 . Formulate the electrochemical cell in which the reaction is Zn + Ag+ Zn2+ + Ag.
Write the half cell reactions.
19. What do you mean by a reference electrode? Mention any two.
20. Why a minimum of two calibration standards are required for a pH meter. Draw the pH-Ecell graph.
21. What is the origin of single electrode potential.
22. Explain the construction and working of Hydrogen –oxygen fuel cell which uses acidic electrolyte in
it. Write the advantages and disadvantages of H2-O2 fuel cell.
23. Define conductivity. How cell constant is determined ? How conductivity of a water sample is
determined?
24. Explain the principle and procedure for electroplating of copper. Give any two applications.
25. A Zn rod is dipped in 0.3 M CuSO4 solution at 25oC. Displacement reaction takes place then it
attains equilibrium. Find the equilibrium constant for this reaction. The standard reduction potential
of Zn and Cu are –0.76 V and +0.34 V respectively.
26. What is electrochemical series? Discuss any five applications with examples.
27. a) Explain the principle of electroless copper plating and give two applications.
b)Explain various types of cathodic protection
28. What will be the standard electrode potential of Ni2+ / Ni electrode if the cell potential of the cell Ni
/ Ni 2+ (0.1M) // Cu2+ (0.01M) / Cu is 0.59 V at 25oC? E0Cu 2+ /Cu = 0.34 V.
29. a) Derive the Nernst Equation for a cell. Explain any three application of Nernst Equation.
b) Calculate the conductivity of a given sample of water at 298 K which shows a conductance of
620 μS in the given cell at 298K. A standard solution of 0.1M KCl shows a conductance of
12.34 mS in that cell. (Given that conductivity of 0.1 M KCl at 298 K is 0.01288 Scm-1 .
30. a) What are reference electrodes? Give examples for primary reference and secondary reference
electrodes and give their electrode reactions.

2
 b) Calculate the emf of the cell Fe/Fe2+(0.01)//Ag+(0.1) /Ag at 298 K if standard electrode potentials
of Fe and Ag are –0.44 V and 0.8 V respectively. Write the cell reaction.
31. Write anode, cathode reactions and Nernst equation for the net cell reaction
2 Al (s) + 3Fe2+(aq)→2Al3+(aq) +3 Fe (s)
32. a) Write the cell reactions and cell representation of Zn-Ag Cell. Given that E0 Zn2+/Zn= -0.76V and
E0Ag+ /Ag = +0.80V. Calculate the emf of the cell at 25oC when concentration of Zn2+ =0.1M and
Ag+ = 0.01M.
b) Explain the working of calomel electrode with diagram. Calculate the potential of calomel
electrode in 0.1 M KCl solution and in saturated KCl solution (4.53M), Given that E0 standard
calomel =0.2810V at 25oC.
33. Calculate the single electrode potential of Pt/Fe3+/Fe2+ electrode at 25oC,when concentration of
Fe2+= 0.01M and Fe3+ = 0.1M. Given that E0Fe3+/Fe2+= +0.77V
34. Distinguish between galvanic series and electrochemical series
35. Calculate the voltage of cell Zn | ZnSO4 (0.0004M) || CdSO4 (0.02M) | Cd. The standard reduction
potential of Zn and Cd are –0.763 V and –0.403 V respectively.
36. a) Discuss the mechanism of electrochemical corrosion of iron under different environment.
b)What are the advantages of electroless plating?
37. a) Why do we prefer glass electrode for the measurement of pH? Explain determination of pH with
neat diagram
b) Iodine (I2) and bromine (Br2) are added to solution containing (I– ) and (Br– ) ions. What reaction
would occur if the concentration of each species is 1M? You are given with standard reduction
potentials of I2 & Br2. I2 + 2e–→ 2 I–; Eº = +0.54 V, Br2 +2e– → 2 Br– ; Eº = +1.08 V
38. Calculate the EMF of the cell Zn/Zn2+ (0.1M) // Cu2+ (0.1 M) /Cu. Write its half-cell and net cell
reaction. E0 Zn 2+ / Zn= -0.76 V & E0 Cu 2+ / Cu= +0.34 V.
39.. a) What is electrochemical series? Describe any three applications of electrochemical series.
b) What are reference electrodes? Give examples for primary reference and secondary reference
electrodes and give their electrode reactions.
40. a) Explain the mechanism of electrochemical corrosion in different environmental conditions.
b) Explain the principle of electroless plating.
41. What are the differences of a galvanic cell and a fuel cell?