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Q1: How do you construct a lead-copper galvanic cell in the lab?
Prepare 0.05 M copper sulfate and 0.05 M lead nitrate solutions using volumetric flasks and deionized water. Polish copper and lead strips with emery paper, then place them in their respective solutions in a 6-well plate. Connect the electrodes to a multimeter using alligator clips, and use a potassium nitrate-soaked string as a salt bridge between the wells to complete the circuit and measure voltage.
Q2: What role does the salt bridge play in a galvanic cell?
The salt bridge, made from a potassium nitrate-soaked string or filter paper, connects the two half-cells and allows ions to flow between them, maintaining electrical neutrality. It prevents direct contact between electrodes while enabling ion migration, which is essential for the galvanic cell to generate and sustain a measurable voltage difference between the anode and cathode.
Q3: How do you identify which electrode is the anode and which is the cathode?
Determine the half-reactions by comparing reduction potentials; the reaction with the higher reduction potential undergoes reduction at the cathode, while the lower potential reaction undergoes oxidation at the anode. In a lead-copper cell, copper has the higher reduction potential, making the copper electrode the cathode and the lead electrode the anode where oxidation occurs.
Q4: What is a concentration cell and how does it differ from a standard galvanic cell?
A concentration cell uses identical electrodes but different solution concentrations in each half-cell. As oxidation occurs in the dilute cell, ions enter the solution, increasing concentration. Simultaneously, reduction in the concentrated cell deposits metal onto the electrode, decreasing concentration. This concentration difference drives a voltage until equilibrium is reached, unlike standard galvanic cells that use different electrode materials.
Q5: How can you use the Nernst equation to determine unknown electrode composition?
Measure the voltage difference between a known electrode (copper) and an unknown electrode using a multimeter. Apply the Nernst equation, which relates measured voltage to standard reduction potentials, to calculate the unknown electrode's reduction potential. Compare this calculated value to known reduction potentials to identify the unknown metal, such as zinc or other common electrode materials.
Q6: Why must electrodes be polished with emery paper before use?
Polishing with emery paper removes surface oxidation, corrosion, and contaminants that can interfere with electron transfer and reduce the accuracy of voltage measurements. Clean electrode surfaces ensure consistent contact with solutions and reliable redox reactions, allowing the multimeter to accurately measure the true voltage generated by the galvanic cell.
Q7: How do you calculate the concentration of copper ions in a dilute solution using galvanic cell data?
Construct a concentration cell with dilute and concentrated copper solutions, measure the voltage, and apply the Nernst equation with known values including temperature, Faraday's constant, and the concentrated solution's copper concentration. Since standard electrode potential is zero for identical electrodes, the measured voltage directly reflects the concentration difference, allowing you to solve for the unknown copper ion concentration.