I.

Introduction

Electrochemical cells

Devices that make use of the interconversion of electrical and chemical energy. There are two
basic types of electrochemical cells: galvanic cells, which are electrochemical devices that generate
electricity from spontaneous reactions, and electrolytic cells, which are those that make use of
electricity or electric current for certain chemical reactions to occur.

Galvanic Cell

This is an electrochemical device that generates electrical energy though a spontaneous

oxidation-reduction reaction. Oxidation takes place at the anode. The electrons released from the
anode travel through an external circuit to the cathode, where the reduction takes place. The internal
circuit of galvanic cells consists of electrolytes, which are connected by a salt bridge. Usually the salt
bridge contains an inert electrolyte whose ions migrate and diffuses through the anolyte and the
catholyte. The main function of the salt bridge is to maintain electrical neutrality by balancing the
migration of the cations toward the cathode and the migration of the anions toward the anode.

Fig. 5.1 Galvanic cell

Electrolytic Cell

Electrolysis is a process where electric current is passed through a solution to produce a

chemical and devices that facilitate such change are called electrolytic cells. An electrolytic cell
requires a current source that serves as an electron pump that pushes electrons from the anode to the
cathode. It saps the electrons from the anode leaving the anode positively charged and thereby making
the cathode negatively charged.

Fig 5.2 Electrolytic cell

Faraday’s Law and Electroplating

According to Michael Faraday, the amount of substance produced or consumed in electrolysis

is proportional to the amount of electricity that passes through the cell. Consequently, the electrical
charge carried by ne mole of electrons is called the Faraday’s constant (F), and is generally expressed
in Coulombs per mole of electron: F = 96,500 Coulombs/mol of e-. A good application of Faraday’s
law is electroplating- the coating of one metal on the surface using electrolysis. The total charge used
is given by: Q=It. Recall that voltage and current are related by Ohm’s law: V=IR. Combining the
equations gives Q= (V/R) t

Objectives

1. Construct and setup galvanic and electrolytic cells;

2. Determine the cell potential of galvanic cells;
3. Determine the effort of concentration on the cell potential;
4. Determine the electrode reactions during the electrolysis of aqueous solution of potassium
iodide; and
5. Apply Faraday’s Law on the electroplating of a ten-centavo coin
 II. Results and Discussion

I. Voltage Determination of Galvanic Cells

A. Construction of Galvanic Cell

Table 5.2 Cell potential of a Zn-Cu cell.

Temperature : 25°C Measured Cell Voltage : 1.00 V

Anode : Zn electrode Half-reaction:

Cathode : Cu electrode Half-reaction:

Cell Redox Reaction

Standard Cell Potential (E°) : 1.10 V

Percent Error (Cell Potential) : 90%