CHAPTER 20

Electrochemistry

Online Chemistry
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Section 1 Online Labs include:

Introduction to Electric Charge
Electrochemistry
(c) ©Jet Propulsion Laboratory/NASA

Voltaic Cells
Section 2
Micro-Voltaic Cells
Voltaic Cells
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Electroplating for Corrosion
Section 3
Electrolytic Cells
Protection Why It Matters Video
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Electrochemistry
 Section 1

Introduction to Main Idea

Electrochemical cells separate

Electrochemistry
oxidation reactions from
reduction reactions.

Key Terms
electrochemistry half-cell cathode > Virginia standards
electrode anode CH.3 The student will investigate and
understand how conservation of energy and
matter is expressed in chemical formulas and
Oxidation-reduction reactions involve energy changes. Because these reactions balanced equations.
involve electron transfer, the net release or net absorption of energy can occur in CH.3.EKS-12
the form of electrical energy rather than as heat. This property allows for a great
many practical applications of redox reactions. The branch of chemistry that deals
with electricity-related applications of oxidation-reduction reactions is called
electrochemistry.

Main Idea
Electrochemical cells separate oxidation reactions
from reduction reactions.
Oxidation-reduction reactions involve a transfer of electrons. If the two
substances are in contact with one another, a transfer of energy as heat
accompanies the electron transfer. In Figure 1.1 a zinc strip is in contact
with a copper(II) sulfate solution. The zinc strip loses electrons to the
copper(II) ions in solution. Copper(II) ions accept the electrons and fall
out of solution as copper atoms. As electrons are transferred between
zinc atoms and copper(II) ions, energy is released as heat, as indicated by
the rise in temperature.

Before After
Figure 1.1

Temperature Change with

Electron Transfer Energy as
heat given off when electrons are
transferred directly from Zn atoms to
Cu2+ ions causes the temperature of
the aqueous CuSO4 solution to rise.

Zinc strip

CuSO4 Cu

Electrochemistry 617
 Conducting wire
Figure 1.2

Electrochemical Cell Zinc electrode

An electrochemical cell consists of two
electrodes. Each electrode is in contact
with an electrolyte; the electrode and
the electrolyte make up a half-cell. The Copper electrode
two electrodes are connected by a wire,
and a porous barrier separates the two
electrolytes.

Copper(II) sulfate
Electrolyte

Zinc sulfate
Electrolyte

Porous barrier
Anode Cathode

If, however, we separate the substance that is oxidized from the

substance that is reduced, the electron transfer is accompanied by a
transfer of electrical energy instead of energy as heat. One means of
separating oxidation and reduction half-reactions is with a porous barrier,
or salt bridge. This barrier prevents the metal atoms of one half-reaction
from mixing with the ions of the other half-reaction. Ions in the two
solutions can move through the porous barrier, which keeps a charge
from building up on the electrodes. Electrons can be transferred from one
side to the other through an external connecting wire. Electric current
moves in a closed loop path, or circuit, so this movement of electrons
through the wire is balanced by the movement of ions in solution.
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING Altering the system in Figure 1.1 as just described would simply involve
Identify In an electrochemical separating the copper and zinc, as shown in Figure 1.2. The Zn strip is in an
cell, at which electrode does aqueous solution of ZnSO4. The Cu strip is in an aqueous solution of CuSO4.
oxidation take place? At which Both solutions conduct electricity, because they are electrolytes. An
electrode does reduction take place? electrode is a conductor used to establish electrical contact with a nonmetallic
part of a circuit, such as an electrolyte. In Figure 1.2, the Zn and Cu strips are
electrodes. A single electrode immersed in a solution of its ions is a half-cell.

The Half-Cells
In the half-cell that contains the Zn electrode in aqueous ZnSO4 solution, the
half-reaction is Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e-. The Zn metal loses two electrons
to form Zn2+ ions in solution, and therefore oxidation is taking place in this
half-cell. The electrode where oxidation occurs is called the anode. In the
half-cell that contains the Cu electrode in aqueous CuSO4 solution, the
half-reaction is Cu2+(aq) + 2e- → Cu(s). In this half-reaction, the Cu2+
ions in solution gain electrons to become Cu solid; that is, reduction is taking
place. The electrode where reduction occurs is called the cathode.

618 Chapter 20
The Complete Cell
Recall that oxidation cannot occur separately from reduction. Both must
occur in an electrochemical reaction. The two half-cells taken together
make an electrochemical cell. In the Zn/Cu electrochemical cell, the
electrons move from the Zn electrode through the wire and down the Cu
electrode to the Cu2+ ions at the electrode-solution interface. The Cu2+
ions are reduced to solid Cu, and the resulting Cu atoms attach them-
selves to the surface of the Cu electrode. For this reaction, a charge is
carried through the barrier by a combination of Zn2+(aq) ions moving
from the anode to the cathode and the S​O ​2-
4​ ​(aq) ions moving from the
cathode to the anode.
Figure1.3
An electrochemical cell may be represented by the following notation:
The Daniell Cell The light bulb
anode electrode |anode solution | |cathode solution | cathode electrode is ­powered by the reaction in this cell.

The double line represents the salt bridge, or porous barrier, between critical thinking
the two half-cells. For the present cell, the cell notation is Infer What would happen if the
porous barrier was removed from
Zn(s) | Zn2+(aq) | | Cu2+(aq) | Cu(s) between the two electrodes?
The electrochemical reaction can be found by adding the anode
half-reaction to the cathode half-reaction. This overall (or net) reaction is
the following redox reaction:

Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)

Although the two half-reactions occur at the same time, they occur at
different places in the cell. Thus, for the reaction to proceed, electrons
must pass through the wire that connects the two half-cells.
An electrochemical cell that consists of the Zn and Cu reaction
described above is called the Daniell Cell, named for the English chemist
John Frederick Daniell. The Daniell Cell can generate enough electricity
to light up the light bulb shown in Figure 1.3. In electrochemical cells,
either a chemical reaction produces electrical energy or an electric Electrodes Porous barrier
current produces a chemical change.

MC0SE20000051A

Section 1 Formative ASSESSMENT

Reviewing Main Ideas 3. Write the half-reaction in which I-(aq) changes
to I2(s). Would this reaction occur at the anode
1. Why is the use of a salt bridge or porous barrier or cathode?
necessary in an electrochemical cell?
2. Given the Cu2+(aq) | Cu(s) and Mg2+(aq) | Mg(s) Critical Thinking
half-reactions, where Cu2+(aq) | Cu(s) is the
4. RELATING IDEAS Is the net chemical result
cathode reaction,
of an electrochemical cell a redox reaction?
a. write the overall reaction. Explain your answer.
b. write the cell notation.

Electrochemistry 619
 Section 2
Main Ideas
Batteries and fuel cells are two
types of voltaic cells.
Voltaic Cells
Exposure to water and oxygen Key Terms
causes iron to corrode. voltaic cell electrode potential
reduction potential standard electrode potential
The electric potential of a
voltaic cell depends on the
Voltaic cells use spontaneous oxidation-reduction reactions to convert chemical
strengths of the oxidizing and
energy into electrical energy. Voltaic cells are also called galvanic cells. The most
reducing agents. common application of voltaic cells is in batteries.

Main Idea
> Virginia standards Batteries and fuel cells are two types of voltaic cells.
CH.1.j The student will investigate and
Figure 2.1 shows an example of a voltaic cell: the Zn || Cu electrochemical
understand that experiments in which variables
are measured, analyzed, and evaluated cell discussed in the previous section.
produce observations and verifiable data. Key
concepts include: the use of current Electrons given up at the anode pass along the external connecting
applications to reinforce chemistry concepts. wire to the cathode. The movement of electrons through the wire must be
CH.3.EKS-12
balanced by the movement of ions in the solution. Thus, in Figure 2.1,
sulfate ions in the CuSO4 solution can move through the barrier into the
ZnSO4 solution.
The dry cells pictured in Figure 2.2 are common sources of electrical
energy. Like the wet cell previously described, dry cells are voltaic cells.
The three most common types of dry cells are the zinc-carbon battery, the
alkaline battery, and the mercury battery. They differ in the substances
being oxidized and reduced.

Porous barrier
e– e–
Figure 2.1
Copper
Voltaic Cell In a voltaic cell, electrons Zinc strip
strip
spontaneously flow from anode to cathode.
The copper strip gains mass as copper ions
become copper atoms. The zinc strip loses
mass as the zinc atoms become zinc ions.

Zinc sulfate,
Zinc atom, Zn ZnSO4, solution
Copper(II) sulfate,
Copper
CuSO4, solution
Zinc ion, atom, Cu
e–
Zn2+

e–

Water
molecule,
H2O Anode Cathode
Copper
​​
Sulfate ion, S​O 2–
4 ​ ion, Cu2+
Zinc atoms losing two Copper(II) ions gaining two
electrons to become ions electrons to become atoms

620 Chapter 20
 Zinc-Carbon Dry Cells Figure 2.2
Batteries such as those used in flashlights are zinc-carbon dry cells. These
Batteries Many common batteries
cells consist of a zinc container, which serves as the anode, filled with a
are simple voltaic dry cells.
moist paste of MnO2, carbon black, NH4Cl, and ZnCl2, as illustrated in
Figure 2.3a. When the external circuit is closed, zinc atoms are oxidized at
the negative electrode, or anode. Zinc carbon
0 +2 Alkaline batteries
​ Zn ​(s) → ​ Zn ​2+(aq) + 2e- batteries

Electrons move across the circuit and reenter the cell through the carbon
rod. The carbon rod is the cathode or positive electrode. Here MnO2 is
reduced in the presence of H2O according to the following half-reaction.
+4 +3
  
​ 2Mn ​O2(s) + H2O(l) + 2e- → ​ Mn ​2O3(s) + 2OH-(aq)
Mercury
battery

Alkaline Batteries
The batteries found in a portable compact disc player or other small
electronic device are frequently alkaline dry cells. These cells do not have a
carbon rod cathode, as in the zinc-carbon cell. The absence of the carbon
rod allows them to be smaller. Figure 2.3b shows a model of an alkaline
Premium
battery. This cell uses a paste of Zn metal and potassium hydroxide instead Content
of a solid metal anode. The half-reaction at the anode is as follows.
Chemistry
0 +2
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​ Zn ​(s) + 2OH-(aq) → ​ Zn ​(OH)2(s) + 2e-
The reduction half-reaction, the reaction at the cathode, is exactly the Voltaic Cell
same as that for the zinc-carbon dry cell.

Figure 2.3
Carbon rod Zn-KOH
Zinc and Alkaline Dry Cells (cathode) anode paste

CRITICAL THINKING Brass current

collector
Distinguish What is Spacer
the difference between a KOH
zinc-carbon dry cell and an electrolyte
alkaline battery? Zinc shell Spacer
(anode) MnO2,
cathode mix

Steel jacket

Moist electrolytic paste of ZnCl2,

MnO2, NH4Cl, and carbon black

(a) Zinc Dry Cell (b) Alkaline Dry Cell

In a zinc dry cell, zinc is oxidized to Zn2+ KOH makes the electrolyte paste in
at the anode, and manganese(IV) is this battery basic. Thus, it is called an
reduced to manganese(III) at the cathode. alkaline dry cell.

Electrochemistry 621
 Figure 2.4 Zn in KOH (anode)

Mercury Batteries It is important that

Steel jacket
mercury batteries be recycled and not just
discarded because mercury is a poi­son­ous Separator
substance.
HgO, carbon (cathode)

Mercury Batteries
The tiny batteries found in hearing aids, calculators, and camera flashes
are mercury batteries, as shown in Figure 2.4. The anode half-reaction is
identical to that found in the alkaline dry cell. However, the cathode, or
reduction, half-reaction is different. The cathode half-reaction is described
by the following equation.
+2 0
​    
HgO ​(s) + H2O(l) + 2e- → ​ Hg ​(l) + 2OH-(aq)

Fuel Cells
A fuel cell is a voltaic cell in which the reactants are being continuously
supplied and the products are being continuously removed. Therefore,
unlike a battery, a fuel cell could, in principle, work forever, changing
chemical energy into electrical energy.
Fuel cells based on the reactions listed below and shown in Figure 2.5
are used in the United States space program.
Cathode: O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e- → 4OH-(aq)
Anode: 2H2(g) + 4OH-(aq) → 4e- + 4H2O(l)

Net reaction: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

Fuel cells are very efficient and have very low emissions.

Excess H 2 (g) + H 2 O(g) Excess O2 (g) + H 2 O(g)

Figure 2.5
e–
Fuel Cells The reactions in this fuel H 2 (g) O2 (g)
e–
cell take place at carbon electrodes that
contain metal catalysts. The water formed
is removed as a gas.
K+
critical thinking
Analyze Why would a fuel cell have _
less of an impact on the environment OH
than other types of cells?

Porous graphite Electrolyte solution Porous graphite

anode cathode

622 Chapter 20
 Main Idea
Exposure to water and oxygen causes iron to corrode.
Corrosion is an electrochemical process that has a large economic
impact. Approximately 20% of all the iron and steel produced is used to
repair or replace corroded structures. One of the metals most commonly
affected by corrosion is iron. Rust, hydrated iron(III) oxide, forms by the
following overall reaction.
4Fe(s) + 3O2(g) + xH2O(l) → 2Fe2O3 • xH2O(s)
The amount of hydration of the iron oxide, noted by the coefficient x
in the equation above, varies, and affects the color of the rust formed.
The mechanism for the corrosion of iron contains the following
electrochemical reactions.
Anode: Fe(s) → Fe2+(aq) + 2e-
Cathode: O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e- → 4OH-(aq)
The anode and cathode reactions occur at different regions of the metal
surface. The electric circuit is completed by electron flow through the
metal itself, which acts like the wire in an electrochemical cell. The water
on the surface of the metal serves as the salt bridge. Thus, for corrosion to
occur, water and oxygen must be present with the iron.
As shown in Figure 2.6, when the iron is exposed to water and oxygen, check for understanding
the iron metal at the anodic site is oxidized to Fe2+ ions. The electrons Extend Express the process of rusting
released at this site travel along the metal (like the wire of a cell) to the in electrochemical cell notation.
cathodic region, where oxygen is reduced. The Fe2+ ions travel along the
moisture toward the cathodic regions. At the cathode, the Fe2+ ions are
further oxidized to Fe3+ ions and form rust, which is hydrated iron oxide,
Fe2O3 • xH2O.
2Fe2+(aq) + (3 + x)H2O(l) → Fe2O3•xH2O(s) + 6H+(aq) + 2e-

Figure 2.6 Water molecule, H 2 O

Electrochemical Explanation of Oxygen molecule, O2
Rusting The cathodic reaction happens where Iron(II) ion, Fe 2+
the O2 concentration is high. The anodic reaction _
Hydroxide ion, OH
happens in a region where the O2 concentration is
low, such as a pit in the metal.

Anodic site: Cathodic site:

Fe(s) 2e-+ Fe2+ (aq) O (aq) + 2H O(l) + 4e- 4OH- (aq)
2 2

Iron, Fe Paint
Water layer Ion conduction Rust

e-
Electron conduction

Electrochemistry 623
Figure 2.7 Preventing Corrosion
The presence of salt or high acidity speed the corrosion process, because
Sacrificial Anode The Alaskan
the movement of electrons is facilitated by the extra ions present.
pipeline is cathodically protected by
a parallel zinc cable. How can corrosion be prevented? One way, which makes use of
electrochemical properties of metals, is to coat steel with zinc in a process
called galvanizing. Zinc is more easily oxidized than iron; therefore, zinc
will react before the iron is oxidized. This is called cathodic protection,
and the more easily oxidized metal used is called a sacrificial anode.
The Alaskan oil pipeline, shown in Figure 2.7, is an example of steel that is
cathodically protected. However, instead of coating, zinc is connected to the
pipe by a wire. The zinc will oxidize before the iron in the steel does. As the
zinc anode corrodes, it gives electrons to the cathode, the steel, and as the
zinc anode does so, it prevents the steel from corroding. As the zinc dis-
solves, it needs to be replaced. As long as zinc metal that is able to corrode is
present, the steel will be protected from corrosion.

Main Idea
The electric potential of a voltaic cell depends on the
strengths of the oxidizing and reducing agents.
In a voltaic cell, the oxidizing agent at the cathode pulls the electrons
through the wire away from the reducing agent at the anode. The “pull,”
or driving force on the electrons, is called the electric potential. Electric
potential, or voltage, is expressed in units of volts (V), which is the
potential energy per unit charge. Current is the movement of the elec-
trons and is expressed in units of amperes, or amps (A).
Electrical potential is analogous to gravitational potential. Just as
water flows from a position of higher gravitational potential to a position
of lower gravitational potential, electrons flow from higher electrical
potential to lower electrical potential.

Electrode Potentials
Reconsider the voltaic cell shown in Figure 2.1. There are two electrodes,
Zn and Cu. These two metals each have different tendencies for accepting
electrons. This tendency for the half-reaction of either copper or zinc to occur
as a reduction half-­reaction in an electrochemical cell can be quantified as a
reduction potential. There are two half-cells in Figure 2.1: a strip of zinc
placed in a solution of ZnSO4 and a strip of copper placed in a solution of
©Brown W. Cannon III/The Image Bank/Getty Images

CuSO4. The difference in potential between an electrode and its solution is

known as electrode potential. When these two half-cells are connected and
the reaction begins, a difference in potential is observed between the
electrodes. This potential difference, or voltage, is proportional to the
energy required to move a certain electric charge between the electrodes.
A voltmeter connected across the Zn||Cu voltaic cell measures a potential
difference of about 1.10 V when the solution concentrations of Zn2+ and
Cu2+ ions are each 1 M.

624 Chapter 20
 The potential difference measured across the complete voltaic cell is Figure 2.8
easily measured and equals the sum of the electrode potentials for the
two half-­reactions. Individual electrode potential cannot be meas­ured Standard Hydrogen
directly, because there can be no transfer of electrons unless both the Electrode (SHE) A hydrogen
anode and the cathode are connected to form a complete circuit. A electrode is the standard reference
electrode for measuring electrode
relative value for the potential of a half-reaction can be determined by
potentials. The electrode surface in
connecting it to a standard half-cell as a reference. This standard half-
contact with the solution is actually a
cell, shown in Figure 2.8, is called a standard hydrogen electrode, or SHE.
layer of hydrogen adsorbed onto the
It consists of a platinum electrode dipped into a 1.00 M acid solution
surface of the platinum.
surrounded by hydrogen gas at 1 atm pressure and 25°C. Other electrodes
are ranked according to their ability to reduce hydrogen in the SHE. critical thinking
The anodic reaction for the standard hydrogen electrode is described Evaluate What is the advantage of
by the forward half-reaction in the following equilibrium e­ quation. using a standard electrode
0 +1 compared to all other electrodes?
→ ​​ 2H+
​ H ​2(g) ​ ←  ​ (aq) + 2e-
The cathodic half-reaction is the reverse. An arbitrary potential of 0.00 V H2(g)
is assigned to both of these half-reactions. The potential of a half-cell under
standard conditions measured relative to the standard hydrogen electrode is a
standard electrode potential, E0. Electrode potentials are expressed as
potentials for reduction, which provide a reliable indication of the ten-
dency of a substance to be reduced. Figure 2.9 shows how the SHE is used Pt wire
to find the electrode potentials of the zinc and copper half‑cells. Half-
H2(g)
reactions for some common electrodes and their standard electrode
potentials are listed in Figure 2.10 on the next page.
Effective oxidizing agents, such as Cu2+ and F2, have positive E0 Pt black
values. Half-reactions with negative reduction potentials prefer oxidation electrode
over reduction. Effective reducing agents, such as Li and Zn, have
negative E0 values, indicating that the metal or other electrode is more
willing to give up electrons than hydrogen.
When a half-reaction is written as an oxidation reaction, the sign of its
electrode potential is reversed, as shown for the half-reactions for zinc.
Zn2+ + 2e- → Zn     E0 = -0.76 V
Zn → Zn2+ + 2e-     E0 = +0.76 V
The potential difference across the zinc/hydrogen cell is -0.76 V, so
zinc is considered to have an electrode potential of -0.76. The negative
number indicates that electrons flow from the zinc electrode, where zinc
is oxidized, to the hydrogen electrode, reducing aqueous hydrogen ions.

Figure 2.9

Finding Electrode Potentials

The electrode potentials of zinc and copper Zinc strip, Copper
half-cells are measured by coupling them Zn strip, Cu
with a standard hydrogen electrode.

Electrochemistry 625
 Figure 2.10

Standard Reduction Potentials

Standard electrode Standard electrode
Half-cell reaction potential, E0 (in volts) Half-cell reaction potential, E0 (in volts)

→ ​2F-
F2 + 2e - ​ ← +2.87 → ​Fe
Fe3+ + 3e - ​ ← -0.04
- → ​Mn2+ + 4H O → ​Pb
Mn​O ​4​​+ 8H+ + 5e - ​ ← 2 +1.49 Pb2+ + 2e - ​ ← -0.13
→ ​Au
Au3+ + 3e - ​ ← +1.42 → ​Sn
Sn2+ + 2e - ​ ← -0.14
→ ​2Cl-
Cl2 + 2e - ​ ← +1.36 → ​Ni
Ni2+ + 2e - ​ ← -0.23

Cr2​O 2- → ​2Cr3+ + 7H O
​7​ ​+ 14H+ + 6e - ​ ← +1.33 → ​Co
Co2+ + 2e - ​ ← -0.28
2
→ ​Mn2+ + 2H O
MnO2 + 4H+ + 2e - ​ ← +1.21 → ​Cd
Cd2+ + 2e - ​ ← -0.40
2
→ ​2Br-
Br2 + 2e -​ ← +1.07 → ​Fe
Fe2+ + 2e - ​ ← -0.41
→ ​Hg
Hg2+ + 2e - ​ ← +0.85 → ​S2-
S + 2e - ​ ← -0.51
→ ​Ag
Ag+ + e - ​ ← +0.80 → ​Cr
Cr3+ + 3e - ​ ← -0.74

H​g ​2+
​ - → → ​Zn
Zn2+ + 2e - ​ ←
2 ​+ 2e ​ ←  ​2Hg +0.80 -0.76
→ ​Fe2+
Fe3+ + e - ​ ← +0.77 → ​Al
Al3+ + 3e - ​ ← -1.66
- → ​Mn​O ​2- → ​Mg
Mn​O ​4​​+ e - ​ ← ​
4 ​ +0.56 Mg2+ + 2e - ​ ← -2.37
→ ​2I-
I2 + 2e - ​ ← +0.54 → ​Na
Na+ + e - ​ ← -2.71
→ ​Cu
Cu2+ + 2e - ​ ← +0.34 → ​Ca
Ca2+ + 2e - ​ ← -2.76
→ ​Cu+
Cu2+ + e - ​ ← +0.16 → ​Ba
Ba2+ + 2e - ​ ← -2.90
→ ​H S(aq)
S + 2H+(aq) + 2e - ​ ← +0.14 → ​K
K+ + e - ​ ← -2.93
2
→ ​H
2H+(aq) + 2e - ​ ← 0.00 → ​Li
Li+ + e - ​ ← -3.04
2

A copper half-cell coupled with the standard hydrogen electrode gives

a potential difference measurement of +0.34 V. This positive number
­indicates that Cu2+(aq) ions are more readily reduced than H+(aq) ions.
Standard electrode potentials can be used to predict if a redox reaction
will occur spontaneously. A spontaneous reaction will have a positive
value for E0cell, which is calculated using the following equation.

E0cell = E0cathode - E0anode

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
Compare How is subtracting the The half-reaction that has the more negative standard reduction potential
value the for the half-cell reaction at will be the anode. Oxidation occurs at the anode, so the anode half-cell
the anode the same as reversing the reaction will be the reverse of the reduction reaction found in Figure 2.10.
reaction? Thus, the total potential of a cell is calculated by subtracting the standard
reduction potential for the reaction at the anode (E0anode) from the
standard reduction potential for the reaction at the cathode (E0cathode).

626 Chapter 20
 Premium Content

Calculating Cell Potentials Learn It! Video

HMDScience.com
Sample Problem A Write the overall cell reaction, and calculate the Solve It! Cards
cell potential for a voltaic cell consisting of the following half-cells: an HMDScience.com
iron (Fe) electrode in a solution of Fe(NO3)3 and a silver (Ag) electrode in
a solution of AgNO3.

Analyze Given: A half-cell consists of Fe(s) with

Fe(NO3)3(aq) and a second half-cell consists of Ag(s) with AgNO3(aq).
Unknown: E​  ​0cell​

PLAN 1. Look up E0 for each half-reaction (written as reductions) in Figure 2.10.

Fe3+(aq) + 3e- → Fe(s) E0 = -0.04 V    Ag+(aq) + e- → Ag(s)
E0 = +0.80 V
2. Determine the cathode and anode.
Fe in Fe(NO3)3 is the anode because it has a lower reduction potential than
Ag. Ag in Ag(NO3) is therefore the cathode.

Solve 1. Determine the overall cell reaction. Multiply the Ag half-reaction by 3 so

that the number of electrons lost in that half-reaction equals the number of
electrons gained in the oxidation of iron. Reverse the iron half-reaction to
be an oxidation half-reaction.
3Ag+(aq) + Fe(s) → 3Ag(s) + Fe3+(aq)
2. Calculate the cell potential by E 0cell = E 0cathode - E 0anode. Note that when a
half-reaction is multiplied by a constant, the E 0 value is not multiplied by
that constant but remains the same.
E 0cell = E 0cathode - E 0anode = +0.80 V - (-0.04 V) = +0.84 V

CHECK YOUR The calculated value for E 0cell is positive, which confirms that it is a voltaic cell,
WORK as the problem states.

Answers in Appendix E

1. For each pair of half-cells, determine the overall electrochemical reaction that proceeds
spontaneously and the E0 value.
a. Cr2​O 2-
​7​ ​/Cr3+ and Ni2+/Ni
b. SHE and Fe2+/Fe3+

Section 2 Formative ASSESSMENT

Reviewing Main Ideas 4. Given the MnO2/Mn2+ and Cr3+/Cr half-cells,
determine the overall electrochemical reaction
1. What is a voltaic cell? that occurs spontaneously and the E0 value.
2. What is electrode potential, and how is it used
to calculate information about an electrochemi- Critical Thinking
cal cell?
5. evaluating ideas A sacrificial anode is
3. Given the Na+/Na and K+/K half-cells, allowed to corrode. Why is the use of a sacri-
determine the overall electrochemical reaction ficial anode considered to be a way to prevent
that proceeds spontaneously and the E0 value. corrosion?

Electrochemistry 627
why it matters

Fuel-Cell Cars

T
he car of the future is quiet, has low emissions, and So today, the experts do not have any more concern about
requires less maintenance than cars of today do. These the safety of hydrogen storage than they do about gasoline
are the promises of fuel-cell cars. The development of storage.
fuel-cell cars has been pushed by state and federal programs,
However, the landscape is not yet dotted with hydrogen
legislation, and funding. There are a number of issues that
refueling stations. Current experimental users such as
need to be resolved before the large-scale manufacture of
governmental institutions must have their own hydrogen
fuel-cell cars becomes feasible. These include the fuel-­storage
refueling stations. Auto companies say there needs to be a
capacity of the car, and the fueling infrastructure.
consumer infrastructure for the hydrogen fuel-cell cars
The technology currently favored for automobiles is the before consumers will buy. On the other hand, possible
proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The system works developers of such hydrogen stations say that there needs to
by combining hydrogen with oxygen taken from the outside be a demand before the infrastructure can form.
air. The movement of the electrons (produced by a redox
The use of fuels such as methanol solves the storage and
reaction) along an external route generates electricity, which is
fuel infrastructure problem, because these fuels can be
used eventually to turn the car wheels. The process is two to
stored similar to the way gasoline is stored. Therefore, these
three times more efficient than that of the internal-combustion
fuels can be sold at current gasoline stations.
engine, and the only products are water and a moderate
amount of energy as heat. In most cases, a traditional car One should also consider the emissions and energy use
battery is used to operate the car’s electrical system. involved in making and delivering the hydrogen fuel in
addition to the emissions from the hydrogen fuel cell.
In principle, fuel cells can run on any hydrogen-rich fuel.
Producing hydrogen fuel itself could involve substantial
Several candidate fuels that can power fuel cells are being
emissions. Even so, fuel-cell cars are still more efficient and
investigated: methanol, ethanol, natural gas, gasoline, and
have greater environmental benefits than the internal-
liquid or compressed hydrogen. If the fuel is not hydrogen
combustion cars of today.
gas, the engine needs to include a reformer that can convert
the other fuel (such as methanol) to hydrogen. Currently, all major car companies are developing and
researching fuel-cell cars. Most companies have prototype
The range of fuel-cell powered cars is limited by the amount
cars and some cars are in use by governmental institutions.
of fuel that can be stored in the storage tank. Current storage
Which type will ultimately succeed in the mass market is yet
technology can take the cars to 300 miles or more before
unknown. Experts agree, though, that for zero-emission cars,
requiring refueling. Researchers in this area are looking into
hydrogen is the only major fuel option that has been
carbon-adsorption systems, which are refrigerated and
identified to date.
pressurized tanks that can store large amounts of hydrogen.
Hydrogen is very combustible, but safe hydrogen tanks have
been developed. Questions
1. Fuel cells that use hydrogen as fuel produce water and
Eventually,
moderate amounts of energy in the form of heat as the
fuel-cell cars
such as this only emissions. What kinds of negative effects might
one may cars that use hydrogen-rich fuels have on the
replace environment?
gasoline-
©Getty Images

powered cars. 2. In the PEM fuel cell, the hydrogen ions are produced at
which electrode: the anode or cathode?

628
 Section 3

Electrolytic Cells Main Ideas

Nonspontaneous redox
reactions occur in electrolytic
cells.
Key Terms
electrolytic cell electroplating electrolysis Electrolysis uses electrical
energy to cause a
Some oxidation-reduction reactions do not occur spontaneously but can be nonspontaneous chemical
driven by electrical energy. If electrical energy is required to produce a redox reaction to occur.
reaction and bring about a chemical change in an electrochemical cell, it is an
electrolytic cell. Most commercial uses of redox reactions make use of
electrolytic cells. > Virginia standards
CH.3 The student will investigate and
understand how conservation of energy and
Main Idea matter is expressed in chemical formulas and
balanced equations.
Nonspontaneous redox reactions occur CH.3.EKS-12
in electrolytic cells.
A comparison of electrolytic and voltaic cells can be seen in Figure 3.1.
The voltaic cell shown has a copper cathode and a zinc anode. If a battery
is connected so that the positive terminal contacts the copper electrode
and the negative terminal contacts the zinc electrode, the electrons move
in the opposite direction. The battery forces the cell to reverse its reac-
tion; the zinc electrode becomes the cathode, and the copper electrode
becomes the anode. The h ­ alf-reaction at the anode, in which copper
metal is oxidized, can be written as f­ ollows:
0 +2
​ Cu ​ → ​ Cu ​2+ + 2e-
The reduction half-reaction of zinc at the cathode is written as follows:
+2 0
​ Zn ​2+ + 2e- → ​ Zn ​ 

Figure 3.1

Voltaic Versus Electrolytic Cells Voltaic Cell Electrolytic Cell

The direction in which the electrons move e– e–
reverses if a voltaic cell is connected to a direct e– e–
current source to become an electrolytic cell.
Copper strip
critical thinking
Analyze Can any voltaic cell become
an electrolytic cell?

Zinc strip

Copper(II) sulfate,
Zinc sulfate, CuSO4, solution
ZnSO4,
solution

Anode Cathode Cathode Anode

Electrochemistry 629
 There are two main differences between voltaic and electrolytic cells.
1. Electrolytic cells are connected to a battery or other direct-current
source. A voltaic cell is a source of electrical energy.
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING 2. In an electrolytic cell, electrical energy from an external source causes
List State the two important nonspontaneous redox reactions. In a voltaic cell spontaneous redox
differences between a voltaic and an reactions produce electricity. In an electrolytic cell, electrical energy
electrolytic cell. turns to chemical energy; in a voltaic cell, the reverse occurs.

Electroplating
An electrolytic process in which a metal ion is reduced and a solid metal is
deposited on a surface is called electroplating. An electroplating cell con-
tains a solution of a salt of the plating metal, an object to be plated (the
cathode), and a piece of the plating metal (the anode). A silver-plating
cell contains a solution of a soluble silver salt and a silver anode. The
cathode is the object to be plated. The silver anode is connected to the
positive electrode of a battery or to some other source of direct current.
The object to be plated is connected to the negative electrode.
Figure 3.2 shows silver being electroplated onto a bracelet. Silver ions
are reduced at the cathode according to the following half-reaction and
deposited as metallic silver when electrons flow through the circuit.
+1 0
​ Ag ​+ + e- → ​ Ag ​ 
At the anode, metallic silver is oxidized by the following half-reaction.
0 +1
​ Ag ​ →​ Ag ​+ + e-
In effect, silver is transferred from the anode to the cathode of the cell.

Figure 3.2
Silver strip, Ag
Electroplating The bracelet in this cell is being
coated with a thin layer of silver. Silver ions are replaced
in the solution as the pure silver anode dissolves. e–

e–

Ag(CN)2–
solution

CN–
Ag+

Ag+ Ag+

Power source
Cathode Anode

630 Chapter 20
 Rechargeable Cells
A rechargeable cell combines the oxidation-reduction chemistry of both
voltaic cells and electrolytic cells. When a rechargeable cell converts
chemical energy to electrical energy, it operates as a voltaic cell. But
when the cell is recharged, it operates as an electrolytic cell, converting
electrical energy to chemical energy.
The standard 12 V automobile battery, shown in Figure 3.3, is a set of
six rechargeable cells. The anode in each cell is lead submerged in a
solution of H2SO4. The anode half-reaction is described below.

Pb(s) + S​O 2-
4​ ​ ​(aq) → PbSO4(s) + 2e
-

At the cathode, PbO2 is reduced according to the following equation.

PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq) + S​O 2- -

4​ ​ ​(aq) + 2e → PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)

The net oxidation-reduction reaction for the discharge cycle is:

Pb(s) + PbO2(s) + 2H2SO4(aq) → 2PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)

A car’s battery produces the electric energy needed to start its engine.
Sulfuric acid, present as its ions, is consumed, and lead(II) sulfate accu-
mulates as a white powder on the electrodes. Once the car is running, the
half-reactions are reversed by a voltage produced by the alternator. The
Pb, PbO2, and H2SO4 are regenerated. A battery can be recharged as long
as all reactants necessary for the electrolytic reaction are present, and all
reactions are reversible.
The lead storage battery is one of the oldest types of rechargeable
batteries. It is designed to deliver a high amount of current in a short
period of time, as, for example, when an engine needs to be started. If the
battery has been in use too long without being recharged by the alterna-
tor, it will not be able to deliver the starting current. In such cases, cars
require a “jump start” from another source.

Figure 3.3

Rechargeable Batteries
The rechargeable cells of a car battery Intercell connectors
produce electricity from reactions
between lead(IV) oxide, lead, and
sulfuric acid.

Pb plates
PbO2 plates
H2SO4(aq)
Intercell dividers

Electrochemistry 631
MC06SEC20000054A
 Main Idea
Electrolysis uses electrical energy to cause a
nonspontaneous chemical reaction to occur.
Electroplating and recharging a battery are examples of electrolysis.
Electrolysis is the process of passing a current through a cell for which the cell
potential is negative and causing an oxidation-reduction reaction to occur.
That is, electrical energy is used to force a nonspontaneous chemical
reaction to occur. For this cell reaction to occur, the external voltage must
be greater than the potential that would be produced by the spontaneous
reverse cell reaction.
Electrolysis is of great industrial importance. It is used to purify many
metals from the ores in which they are found chemically combined in
Earth’s crust.

Electrolysis of Water
The electrolysis of water, shown in Figure 3.4, leads to the cell reaction in
which water is broken down into its elements, H2 and O2. Recall that
hydrogen gas and oxygen gas combine spontaneously to form water and
are used to power fuel cells, which produce electricity. Therefore, the
reverse process (electrolysis of water) is nonspontaneous and requires
electrical energy. The two half-reactions occur at the anode and cathode.
Anode: 6H2O(l) → 4e- + O2(g) + 4H3O+(aq)
Cathode: 4H2O(l) + 4e- → 2H2(g) + 4OH-(aq)

Figure 3.4

Electrolysis
Electrical energy from the
battery is used to break
down water. Hydrogen
forms at the cathode (left
tube), and oxygen forms at
the anode (right tube).

632 Chapter 20
Aluminum Production by Electrolysis
Aluminum is the most abundant metal in Earth’s crust. It is a relatively
reactive metal; therefore, in nature, it is found as its oxide in an ore called
bauxite. Aluminum is now very useful commercially, but it was not until Sodium Production
1886 that a process to obtain pure aluminum metal was discovered. by Electrolysis
Charles M. Hall (from the United States) and Paul Héroult (from France) Sodium is such a reactive metal
simultaneously, but independently, determined a practical method for that preparing it through a chemical
producing aluminum; it is an electrolytic process called the Hall-Héroult process can be dangerous. Today,
process. sodium is produced mainly by
Bauxite ore contains not only aluminum oxide (Al2O3), but oxides of the electrolysis of molten sodium
iron, silicon, and titanium. Therefore, the aluminum oxide (called chloride. The melting point of sodium
alumina) must first be separated from the other compounds in the ore. chloride is about 800°C; but mixing
The pure hydrated alumina (Al2O3•nH2O) is obtained by treating bauxite it with solid calcium chloride lowers
the melting point to around 600°C.
with sodium hydroxide, which dissolves the alumina but does not dis-
This mixture is introduced into an
solve the other compounds in the ore. The alumina solution is then
electrolytic cell called the Downs Cell
separated from the remaining solid compounds and reprecipitated to
to retrieve the sodium metal, and the
obtain pure alumina. The purified alumina is dissolved in molten cryo-
lower melting point allows the cell to
lite, Na3AlF6, at 970°C in an electrochemical cell, and the aluminum ions
use less electrical energy to run.
are reduced to aluminum metal. The liquid aluminum is denser than the
molten cryolite and alumina; therefore, the molten aluminum metal
settles to the bottom of the cell and is drained off periodically.
The electrolytic solution contains a large number of aluminum-
containing ions, and the chemistry of the electrochemical reaction is not
completely understood. Scientists still debate the exact species that
participate in the half-reactions; but the overall cell reaction is

2Al2O3(l) + 3C(s) → 4Al(l) + 3CO2(g),

where carbon is the anode and steel is the cathode in the cell.
The aluminum metal produced in this process is 99.5% pure. The CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
Hall-Héroult process made the production of aluminum economically Distinguish Why is it so critical for
feasible. However, this process is the largest single user of electrical people to recycle aluminum?
energy in the United States—nearly 5% of the national total. Recycling
aluminum saves almost 95% of the cost of production. Aluminum recy-
cling is one of the most economically worthwhile recycling programs that
has been developed.

Section 3 Formative ASSESSMENT

Reviewing Main Ideas Critical Thinking
1. Describe an electrolytic cell. 5. APPLYING CONCEPTS Copper ore
2. Explain the process of electroplating. contains zinc metal, which is oxidized along
with Cu during the electrolytic purification
3. What is a rechargeable cell? process. However, the Zn2+ ions are not then
4. Give an example of how electrolytic cells are reduced when the Cu2+ ions are reduced to Cu
used in industry. at the cathode to obtain purified copper metal.
Explain how Zn can be oxidized with Cu, but
their ions not be reduced together.

Electrochemistry 633
Math Tutor CALCULATING CELL POTENTIALS

You have learned that electrons are transferred in all oxidation- The potential (voltage) of a given voltaic cell depends on
reduction reactions. Electrons from a substance being oxidized how strongly the oxidation process tends to give up electrons
are transferred to another substance being reduced. A voltaic cell and how strongly the reduction process tends to take them.
is a simple device that physically separates the oxidation reaction The greater these two combined tendencies, the higher the
from the reduction reaction, thus forcing electrons released potential of the cell. Potentials have been measured for each
during oxidation to travel through a wire to reach the site of half-reaction. In a voltaic cell, the process with the more
reduction. If a device, such as a light bulb or a motor, is placed in negative reduction potential will proceed as the oxidation
the circuit, the moving electrons can perform useful work. The reaction at the anode of the cell. The more positive reaction will
device will continue to operate until the circuit is broken or the proceed as reduction at the cathode. The sample problem
reaction ceases to occur spontaneously. shows how to find the potential of a voltaic cell.

Problem-Solving TIPS
• In a voltaic cell, the process that has the more negative reduction potential will proceed as the
oxidation reaction at the anode of the cell.

Sample Problem
Calculate the potential of a voltaic cell in which Hg2+ ions are reduced to Hg metal while
Zn metal is oxidized to Zn2+ ions.

Reduction takes place at the cathode, so the cathode half-reaction is

Hg2+(aq) + 2e- → Hg(l)
Oxidation takes place at the anode, so the anode half-reaction is
Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e-
To use the equation for cell potential, rewrite the anode half-reaction as a reduction
reaction, Zn2+(aq) + 2e- → Zn(s).

Use Figure 2.10 in the current chapter to find the standard reduction potential for each half-reaction.
Then, calculate the cell potential.
Hg2+(aq) + 2e- → Hg(l) ​E c​ athode​ 0 ​= +0.85 V

Zn2+(aq) + 2e- → Zn(s) ​E ​anode​ 0 ​= -0.76 V

​E c​ ell​ 0 ​= ​E ​cathode​ 0 ​- ​E ​anode​ 0 ​= +0.85 V - (-0.76 V) = 1.61 V

Answers in Appendix E

1. Calculate the potential of a voltaic cell in which aluminum metal is oxidized to Al3+ ions
while Cu2+ ions are reduced to Cu+ ions.
2. Calculate the potential of a cell in which the reaction is Pb(s) + Br2(l) → Pb2+(aq) + 2Br-(aq).

634 Chapter 20
 Summary
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Chapter 20 Interactive Review

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Review Games
Concept Maps

Section 1 Introduction to Electrochemistry Key Terms

• Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with electrochemistry

electricity-related applications of redox reactions. electrode
• The electrode immersed in an electrolyte solution is a half-cell. half-cell
• The anode is the electrode where oxidation takes place. The cathode is the anode
electrode where reduction occurs. cathode
• The cell consists of electrodes connected by a wire along which the
electron travels and a salt bridge (or porous barrier) through which ions
transfer to balance the charge.
• An electrochemical cell is a system of electrodes and electrolytes in which
either chemical reactions produce electrical energy or electric current
produces chemical change.

Section 2 Voltaic Cells Key Terms

• A voltaic cell, sometimes called a galvanic cell, uses a spontaneous redox voltaic cell
reaction to produce electrical energy. Examples of voltaic cells are batteries reduction potential
and fuel cells.
electrode potential
• Fuel cells are voltaic cells in which the reactants are continuously supplied
standard electrode potential
and the products are continuously removed.
• The potential difference must be measured across a complete cell because
no transfer of electrons can occur unless both the anode and cathode are
connected to form a complete circuit. Thus, the standard electrode potential
for a half-cell is meas­ured against the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE).
• Standard reduction potentials, E0, are stated as reduction half-reactions.
Effective oxidizing agents have positive E0 values, while effective reducing
agents have negative E0 values.
• A voltaic cell has an E​  0cell
​ ​ value that is positive.
• Corrosion occurs when iron is exposed to oxygen and water. One of the
best methods to prevent corrosion is by the use of sacrificial anodes.

Section 3 Electrolytic Cells Key Terms

• Electrolytic cells are cells in which electrical energy from an external source electrolytic cell
causes a nonspontaneous reaction to occur. electroplating
• An electrolytic cell has an ​E 0cell
​ ​value that is negative. electrolysis
• Electrolysis has great economic impact. Applications of electrolytic cells are
electroplating of metallic surfaces, rechargeable batteries, aluminum
production, and purification of metals.

Chapter Summary 635

Chapter 20 Review
Section 1 12. The standard hydrogen electrode is assigned an

Introduction to electrode potential of 0.00 V. Explain why this voltage

is assigned.
Electrochemistry 13. a. What information is provided by the standard
REVIEWing main Ideas reduction potential of a given half-cell?
b. What does the relative value of the reduction
1. In the half-cell Zn2+(aq) + 2e- → Zn(s), what is the potential of a given half-reaction indicate about its
electrode and is this half-reaction an anodic reaction oxidation-reduction tendency?
or a cathodic reaction?
14. When the cell Ba(s) | Ba2+(aq) | | Sn2+(aq) | Sn(s) is
2. What role does the porous barrier play? running, what observations can be made?
3. For each of the following pairs of half-cells, write the
overall reaction and the cell notation. Assume the first Practice Problems
half-cell given in each pair is the cathodic half-cell. 15. For each of the following pairs of half-cells, determine
a. Ag+/Ag, Co2+/Co the overall electrochemical reaction that proceeds
b. Au3+/Au, Zn2+/Zn spontaneously:
c. Hg2+/Hg, K+/K a. Na+/Na, Ni2+/Ni
4. Describe the components of an electrochemical cell b. F2/F-, S/H2S
and how the electrical charge travels through these c. Br2/Br-, Cr3+/Cr
_
components. d. Mn​O ​4​/Mn2+, Co2+/Co

16. Determine the values of E0 for the cells in the

Section 2 previous problem.

Voltaic Cells 17. Suppose chemists had chosen to make the

I2 + 2e- → 2I- half-cell the standard electrode
REVIEWing main Ideas
and had assigned it a potential of zero volts.
5. Describe a voltaic cell, and give two examples of a a. What would be the E0 value for the
voltaic cell. Br2 + 2e- → 2Br- half-cell?
b. What would be the E0 value for the
6. What is the essential advantage of a fuel cell over Al3+ + 3e‑ → Al half-cell?
batteries in the generation of electrical energy? c. How much change would be observed in the
7. Explain why corrosion is a voltaic cell. E0 value for the reaction involving Br2 + I- if the
I2 half-cell is the standard?
8. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
corrosion-prevention methods. 18. If a strip of Ni were dipped into a solution of AgNO3,
what would be expected to occur? Explain, using E0
9. Which half reaction would more likely be an values and equations.
oxidation reaction: one with a standard reduction
potential of -0.42 V, or one with a standard reduction Section 3
potential of +0.42 V?

10. Why are dry-cell batteries called dry cells, even

Electrolytic Cells
though their chemistry involves water? REVIEWing main Ideas

11. a. Explain what is meant by the potential ­difference 19. What reaction happens at the cathode in an
between the two electrodes in an electrochemical electrolysis process?
cell.
20. Explain why water cannot be used in the electro-
b. How is this potential difference measured? What
chemical cell during the production of aluminum.
units are used?

636 Chapter 20
 Chapter review

21. Calculate the voltage of a cell in which the overall 31. a. What would happen if an aluminum spoon were
reaction is the electrolysis of aqueous cadmium used to stir a solution of Zn(NO3)2?
chloride into its elements. b. Could a strip of Zn be used to stir a solution of
Al(NO3)3? Explain, using E0 values.
22. According to electrochemical data, can Ni be plated
onto a zinc metal object using a nickel nitrate solu- 32. How do the redox reactions for each of the following
tion? Explain. types of batteries differ?
a. zinc-carbon
23. Distinguish between a voltaic cell and an electrolytic b. alkaline
cell in terms of the nature of the reaction involved. c. mercury
24. a. What is electroplating? 33. a. Why are some standard reduction potentials
b. Identify the anode and cathode in such a process. positive and some negative?
b. Compare the E0 value for a metal with the

Mixed Review reactivity of that metal.

REVIEWing main Ideas

CRITICAL THINKING
25. Predict whether each of the following reactions will
occur spontaneously as written by determining the E0 34. Applying Models Explain how the oxidation-reduction
value for potential reaction. Write and balance the chemistry of both the voltaic cell and the electrolytic
overall equation for each reaction that does occur cell are combined in the chemistry of rechargeable
spontaneously. cells.
a. Mg + Sn2+ → 35. Applying Ideas In lead-acid batteries, such as your car
b. K + Al3+ → battery, the degree of discharge of the battery can be
c. Li+ + Zn → determined by measuring the density of the battery
d. Cu + Cl2 → fluid. Explain how this is possible.
26. Why is it possible for alkaline batteries to be smaller 36. Applying Ideas In lead-acid batteries, the battery
than zinc-carbon dry cells? cannot be recharged indefinitely. Explain why not.

27. Draw a diagram of a voltaic cell whose two half- 37. Interpreting Graphics A voltaic cell is pictured below.
reactions consist of Ag in AgNO3 and Ni in NiSO4. Identify the species that is oxidized if current is
Identify the anode and cathode, and indicate the allowed to flow.
directions in which the electrons and ions are moving. Digital voltmeter
28. Can a solution of Sn(NO3)2 be stored in an aluminum
container? Explain, using E0 values.

29. A voltaic cell is made up of a cadmium electrode in a

solution of CdSO4 and a zinc electrode in a solution
of ZnSO4. The two half-cells are separated by a
porous barrier.
MnO4– Cr2O72–
a. Which is the cathode, and which is the anode?
b. In which direction are the electrons flowing? Mn2+ Pt Pt Cr3+
c. Write balanced equations for the two H+ H+
half-reactions, and write a net equation for
the combined reaction.

30. Would the following pair of electrodes make a good

battery? Explain.
Cd → Cd2+ + 2e-
Fe → Fe2+ + 2e-

Chapter Review 637

Chapter review

42. In our portable society, batteries have become a

USING THE HANDBOOK
necessary power supply. As consumers, we want to
38. Aluminum is described in Group 13 of the Elements purchase batteries that will last as long as possible.
Handbook (Appendix A) as a self-protecting metal, Advertisements tell us that some batteries last longer
and can be used in preventing corrosion of iron than others, but do they really? Design an investiga-
structures. Using electrochemical data, explain how tion to answer the question. Is there a difference in
aluminum protects iron structures. longevity between the major brands of AA batteries?
Add a cost-effectiveness component to your design.

43. When someone who has a silver filling in a tooth bites

RESEARCH AND WRITING
down on an aluminum gum wrapper, saliva acts as an
electrolyte. The system is an electrochemical cell that
39. Go to the library, and find out about the electroplating
produces a small jolt of pain. Explain what occurs,
industry in the United States. What are the top three
using half-cell reactions and E0 values.
metals used for plating, and how many metric tons of
each are used for electroplating each year in the
United States?

40. Investigate the types of batteries being considered for

electric cars. Write a report on the advantages and
disadvantages of these types of batteries.

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT

41. Performance Take an inventory of the types of

batteries used in your home. Find out the voltage
supplied by each battery and what electrochemical
reaction each uses. Suggest why that electrochemical
reaction is used in each case.

638 Chapter 20
 TEST PREP

Standards-Based Assessment
Answer the following items on a separate piece of paper. 6. When silver is electroplated onto another metal,
MULTIPLE CHOICE Ag+ is
A. oxidized at the anode.
1. The electrode at which reduction occurs is B. reduced at the anode.
A. always the anode. C. oxidized at the cathode.
B. always the cathode. D. reduced at the cathode.
C. either the anode or the cathode.
7. Which metal would best provide cathodic
D. always the half-cell.
protection from corrosion for an iron bridge?
2. Refer to the table of standard reduction potentials A. Au
below. A voltaic cell contains a strip of zinc metal in B. Sn
a solution containing zinc ions in one half-cell. The C. Cu
second is a strip of tin metal in a solution containing D. Mg
tin ions. When this cell operates,
A. Sn is oxidized and Zn2+ is reduced. SHORT ANSWER
B. Sn is reduced and Zn2+ is oxidized.
C. Sn2+ is oxidized and Zn is reduced. 8. In the production of aluminum by the Hall-Héroult
D. Sn2+ is reduced and Zn is oxidized. process, is the aluminum metal produced at the
cathode or the anode?
3. When a rechargeable cell is being recharged, the
cell acts as a(n) 9. The reduction potential for nitric acid is 0.96 V
A. fuel cell. C. voltaic cell. (reduction half-reaction is NO - +
3 + 4H + 3e ⎯→
-

B. electrolytic cell. D. Leclanche cell. NO + 2H2O). If gold (Au) is placed in a beaker of

1 M nitric acid, will the gold dissolve?
4. Refer to the table of standard reduction potentials
below. The standard potential of the cell
Sn | Sn2+ | | Cr3+ | Cr is -0.60 V. What is the standard EXTENDED RESPONSE
reduction potential of the Cr3+/Cr electrode?
10. Given a voltaic cell consisting of a gold electrode in
A. +0.88 V C. -0.88 V
a gold nitrate solution in one half-cell and a zinc
B. +0.74 V D. -0.74 V
electrode in a zinc nitrate solution in the other
half-cell, what occurs once the wire is connected to
Half-cell reaction Standard reduction both electrodes?
potential, E0 (in volts)
⎯→ Au 11. If pure water is placed in a beaker with wires
Au3+ + 3e- ←⎯ +1.50
connected to a cathode and anode and electrical
⎯→ Cu
Cu2+ + 2e- ←⎯ +0.34 voltage is applied, will electrolysis of water occur?
⎯→ Fe
Fe2+ + 2e- ←⎯ -0.41 Explain your answer.
⎯→ Sn
Sn2+ + 2e- ←⎯ -0.14
⎯→ Zn
Zn2+ + 2e- ←⎯ -0.76
⎯→ Mg
Mg2+ + 2e- ←⎯ -2.37

5. Refer to the table of reduction potentials above.

Which metal, Zn or Au, can reduce Sn2+ ions to
Sn metal when placed in an aqueous solution of
Sn2+ ions?
A. Zn 11 12 1
Test Tip
10 2
B. Au 9 3
Remember that if you can eliminate two
8 4 of the four answer choices, your chances
C. Both Zn and Au can reduce Sn2+ ions. 7 6 5
of choosing the correct answer choice
D. Neither Zn nor Au can reduce Sn2+ ions. will double.

Standards-Based Assessment 639