Electric Current: the Movement of Charged Particles

Electrochemistry Unit Name: ______Page 23 of 24

Electric Current: the movement of charged particles.

Metals are generally excellent conductors of electricity because the electrons of their atoms are delocalized. If the potential energy of the electrons in the metal is raised, these electrons will flow toward a point where their potential energy is lower. This movement of electrons in metals is known as metallic conduction.

Substances that produce ions in solution are electrolytes. Ions with a positive charge are called cations and ions with a negative charge are called anions. Ions in solution will move from an area of high energy toward an area of low energy producing, a current. This movement of ions in solution is known as electrolytic conduction.

../../../../My Web Sites/Physics Workshop/howe/demochm2.htm - 30If the electrodes of a battery are placed in an ionic solution, a current flows between the electrodes just as the movement of electrons in a metal results in a current. This produces a Redox reaction at each electrode by a process known as electrolysis.

The electrolytic device used for electrolysis has three essential parts:

A source of direct current to provide the energy for the reaction to occur.
Two electrodes - the cathode and the anode. The cathode provides a surface where contact can be made between electrons from the power source and the reactant in solution that is to be reduced. The cathode has a negative charge and attracts the cations in the electrolyte. The anode provides a surface where the reactant being oxidized can deposit the electrons it loses. The anode has a positive charge and attracts the anions in the electrolyte.
An electrolyte. This is the substance in a dissolved or liquid phase that permits ions to move between the electrodes, which balances the flow of electrons in the external circuit.
/ To remember which Redox half-reaction occurs at which electrode:
Oxidation and Anode both begin with vowels.
Reduction and Cathode both begin with consonants.
This is the same for both electrolytic devices and electrochemical cells.
/ The electrode charge is not the same in electrolytic devices and electrochemical cells:
Electrolytic Device / Electrochemical Cell
·  positive anode
·  negative cathode / ·  negative anode
·  positive cathode

Do all questions page 4-11!!

2 pts each

Electrolytic Cell Electrochemical (Voltaic) Cell

A generator produces an electric current by electromagnetic induction. A generator does not produce electrons - it pumps electrons toward the cathode and away from the anode. The role of a generator is to raise the potential energy of the electrons on the cathode and to reduce the potential energy of the electrons on the anode.

More terms used with electricity:

·  Galvanometer - an instrument for detecting electric current.

·  Voltmeter - an instrument to measure the potential difference between two half-cells in a voltaic cell.

·  Amperes - the SI units for current flow = # e- / s

·  Volts - a measurement of electric potential difference between two electrodes.

·  Electromotive force, emf - another term for volts.

·  Cations - positive ions attracted to the cathode.

·  Anions - negative ions attracted to the anode.

·  Electrolysis - the process by which an electric current produces a chemical change.

·  Voltaic cell - a device used to produce electric energy from an oxidation-reduction reaction.

·  Battery - two or more electrochemical cells operating as a unit.

·  External circuit - a "wires" connected to a battery providing a path for electricity to flow.

·  Internal circuit - the electrolyte inside a battery through which ions can move.

Electric potential difference: the relative tendency of two substances to take on electrons.

During electrolysis, a Redox reaction takes place only when energy is provided by an external power source. A Redox reaction occurs spontaneously in electrochemical cells because of the electric potential difference between the two electrodes.

/ For a substance to take on electrons, another substance must give them up. These two make up the two halves of an electrochemical cell. A comparison of the electron attraction of these two half-cells becomes the electrode potentials. The sum of the two electrode potentials will be the potential (voltage) for the cell.

An example: the zinc-copper cell (chem lab 295)

This cell produces 1.10 volts

The cell works because the valence electrons of zinc have a higher energy than the valence electrons of copper. This gives zinc a greater tendency to give up electrons than copper. In the external circuit, electrons will always move from the positive anode to the negative cathode.

Zinc is the anode:

·  A piece of Zn metal is immersed in ZnSO4 (aq)

·  Atoms of the zinc metal lose electrons and become zinc ions in solution.

·  The half-reaction is represented by: Zn Zn+2 + 2e-

This is an oxidation half-reaction.
Oxidation always occurs at the anode.

·  A shorthand for representing the half-cell reaction is: Zn|Zn+2

Copper is the cathode:

·  A piece of Cu metal is immersed in CuSO4 (aq)

·  Copper ions in solution gain electrons to add copper atoms to the copper metal.

·  The half-reaction is represented by: Cu+2 + 2e- Cu

This is a reduction half-reaction.
Reduction always occurs at the cathode.

·  A shorthand for representing the half-cell reaction is: Cu+2|Cu

This cell operates because:

·  Copper metal takes electrons away from zinc metal.

·  These electrons move from the anode to the cathode through the external circuit.

·  The newly formed Zn+2 go into solution.

·  SO4-2 ions in solution move from the cathode to the anode through the salt bridge.

·  The cell continues to operate as long as there is a potential energy difference between the half-cells.

/ The shorthand for the zinc-copper cell is: Zn|Zn+2||Cu+2|Cu
The anode (oxidation reaction) is always on your left.
The cathode (reduction reaction) is always on your right.
The two vertical lines between the half-cells represent the "salt bridge".

This standard reduction potential table SEE THE BLACK CHEMISTRY BOOK was used to find the potentials for the half-cells and calculate the voltage for the zinc-copper cell above. The table and calculations will be covered in detail beginning tomorrow.

Calculations
look like this / Zn Zn+2 + 2e- ...... +0.76 Volts
Cu+2 + 2e- Cu ...... +0.34 Volts
Total = +1.10 Volts

Your level of understanding of this material will determine your success with the electrochemistry concept. Study the information until you are comfortable with it. Be prepared to answer the following questions in class tomorrow: 2 each

1. What causes metallic conduction?
   
2. How are metallic and electrolytic conduction different?
   
3. At which electrode does reduction occur during electrolysis?
   
4. What is the purpose of a generator?
   
5. What does voltage measure?
   
6. Are cations positive or negative?
   
7. Why can't the potential energy of a single half-cell be measured?
   
8. Oxidation always takes place at which electrode?
   
9. What would cause electrons to stop flowing in a cell?
   
10. What does a single vertical line represent in the shorthand for a voltaic cell?
    
11. What does a double vertical line represent in the shorthand for a voltaic cell?
    
12. How is the voltage of a voltaic cell determined?
    

13.  What direction do electrons flow in the external circuit of a cell?

Redox Reaction Calculator

Standard Reduction Potential Table:
shows the voltage of reduction half-reactions.
·  All reactions on the table are written as reductions. The substance on the left side of the arrow is the oxidizing agent, an electron acceptor. The substance on the right side of the arrow is the reducing agent, an electron donor.
·  In other words, all reactions on the table represent cathode reactions.
·  To obtain the anode reaction, reverse the direction of the reaction on the table. This makes the reaction oxidation.
·  For the oxidation reaction, the voltage is the same magnitude, but with the opposite sign.
·  Electrons must flow from reducting agent to oxidizing agent, that is toward the more positive potential on the chart.
/ A basic rule of thumb:
When comparing two half-cell reactions, the lowest one will be the cathode.
Standard Reduction Potential Table (at 25oC, 101kPa, 1M)
Another chart is on page 615 or your book and in the CRC D91 and a good chart in the black Merril book at the back of the room.
/ Half-Reaction / volts /
Li+ + e- Li / - 3.04
Al+3 + 3e- Al / - 1.68
Zn+2 + 2e- Zn / - 0.76
Fe+2 + 2e- Fe / - 0.44
2H2O + 2e- H2 + 2OH - / - 0.41
Ni+2 + 2e- Ni / - 0.26
Pb+2 + 2e- Pb / - 0.13
2H+ + 2e- H2 / 0.00
Cu+2 + 2e- Cu / 0.34
Cu+ + e- Cu / 0.52
Fe+3 + e- Fe+2 / 0.77
Ag+ + e- Ag / 0.80
O2 + 4H+2 + 4e- 2H2O / 0.82
Br2 + 2e- 2Br - / 1.07
Cl2 + 2e- 2Cl - / 1.36
Au+3 + 3e- Au / 1.52
The standard reduction potential table can be used to:

1. Predict the direction chemical reactions will go.

·  Will this reaction occur as written? Al+3 (aq) + Ni (cr) Ni+2 (aq) + Al (cr)

·  Total the voltage of the two half-reactions:

Al+3 Al . . . . . -1.68V (reduction, as written on the table)
Ni Ni+2 . . . . . +0.26V (oxidation, reversed from the table)
Total is -1.42V

·  For a reaction to take place, there must be a positive voltage. This reaction will not spontaneously occur.

2. Determine the maximum voltage produced by an electrochemical cell.

·  What is the voltage of this cell? Zn|ZN+2||Fe+2|Fe

·  Total the voltage of the two half-reactions:

Zn Zn+2 + 2e- ...... 0.77V (oxidation, reversed from the table)
Fe+2 + 2e- Fe ...... -0.44V (reduction, as written on the table)
Total is 0.33V

3. Predict the products of electrolysis.

·  For an electric current to pass through an aqueous salt solution, a chemical reaction must take place at both electrodes.
·  At each electrode, water will be in competition with the salt. This means there are always two possibilities for the product at each electrode.
·  Compare the voltages of the two possibilities at each electrode. The least negative voltage will identify the product.
Sample Problem Using the Reduction Table:
Predict the products of the electrolysis of 1M CuCl2 (aq)
The two possible reduction reactions at the cathode are:
Cu+2 + 2e- Cu . . . . 0.34V
2H2O + 2e- H2 + 2OH - . . . . - 0.41V
The least negative value requires less energy, and will be the reaction to take place. Cu (s) will
be produced at the cathode.
The two possible oxidation reactions at the anode are:
2Cl- Cl2 + 2e- . . . . -1.36
2H2O O2 + 4H+ + 4e- . . . . - 0.82
The least negative, O2 (g) will be produced at the anode.
Cu (s) and O2 (g) are produced by electrolysis of 1M CuCl2 (aq)

Electrochemistry Practice Problems 2 each

Use the standard reduction potential table to work these problems.
Does this reaction occur spontaneously? Al(s) + Au+3(aq) Al+3(aq) + Au(s)

1.  The following questions are about this cell: Zn|Zn+2||Pb+2|Pb

a.  Which half-cell produces an oxidation reaction?

b.  As the diagram is drawn, do electrons flow from left to right, or right to left?

c.  Write the half-reaction for the lead half-cell.

d.  What is the theoretical voltage of this voltaic cell?

2.  An electric current is passed through an aqueous solution of lithium bromide.

a.  What is produced at the cathode?

b.  What is produced at the anode?

3.  The following questions are about this cell: Al|Al+3||Au+3|Au

a.  At which electrode does reduction occur?

b.  Which electrode is the anode?

c.  Which electrode will lose mass?

d.  To which electrode will the cations migrate?

e.  What is the reducing agent?

f.  Write the half-reaction for the gold half-cell.

g.  What is the theoretical voltage of this cell?

4.  An electric current is passed through an aqueous solution of magnesium chloride.

a.  Write the half-reaction that takes place at the anode.

b.  Write the half-reaction that takes place at the cathode.

5.  Do these reactions occur spontaneously? Show work (3 each)

a.  Cr+2(aq) + Ni(s) Cr(s) + Ni+2(aq)

b.  Br2(l) + I -(aq) Br -(aq) + I2(s)

c.  Cl2(s) + Sn+2(aq) Cl -(aq) + Sn+4(aq)

Some practical applications of electrochemical cells:

Dry cell - acid form:

This is the source of power for an ordinary flashlight. Most "flashlight batteries" produce 1.5 volts. The case of the cell is zinc metal acting as the anode. At the center of the cell is a stick of graphite for the cathode. The graphite stick is surrounded by a paste of MnO2 and NH4Cl. /

Half-reactions for this cell are:

Anode - Zn (s) Zn+2 + 2e -

Cathode - 2NH4+ (aq) + 2MnO2 (s) + 2e - Mn2O3 (s) + 2NH3 (aq) + H2O (l)

Remember that the term "battery" refers to two or more cells connected together. The 9-volt transistor battery is a true battery. It contains six individual 1.5 volt cells connected in series to produce 9 volts.

Dry cell - alkaline form:

The NH4Cl in the "acid form" cell is replaced by KOH and the zinc is in powder form rather than a solid piece of metal. The graphite cathode is eliminated and acid corrosion of the container does not occur. The alkaline cell is more efficient and can be miniaturized to fit more varied applications.

Lead storage battery - acid form:

The normal "car battery" consists of six 2-volt cells connected in series to produce 12 volts. Each cell uses a plate of lead for the anode. The cathode is PbO2 powder formed into a conducting grid. The electrodes are immersed in dilute H2SO4.