Chapter 22- Electrochemistry Flashcards
Electrochemical Cell
Made up of two half cells. Each half cell is made up of a conductor (aka electrode) immersed in a electrolyte solution.
Produce electrical energy
Example: Daniel’s cell, or Galvanic cell
Salt bridge
In an electrochemical cell, allows ions to be passed between the two electrodes without the transfer of the electrolyte solutions.
Typically a tube filled with potassium chloride, or a third electrolyte solution.
In order for a voltage to be produced in an electrochemical cell…
Oxidation in one half cell and reduction in the other must occur simultaneously in order to produce a voltage.
Ionic atmosphere
Surrounds each ion, reducing its velocity and reactivity. Contributes to cell activity, or effective concentration.
Activity
“Effective concentration”
Solutions may behave as if they are of a lower concentration than they are in reality, due to the ionic atmosphere.
Used rather than molar concentration in electrochemistry.
Activity coefficient
accounts for the difference between the effective concentration, and actual concentration of a solution.
a=Y[X]
where:
a=activity
Y=activity coefficient
[X]=concentration
Hydration radius
Refers to the size of the ion when the hydrated sphere is included.
Ionic strength
Refers to the strength of the electric field in a solution.
As ionic strength increases, the activity coefficient of a cell will decrease (gets closer to zero).
Ion charge
As the ion charge increases, the activity coefficient will decrease.
Ion size
The smaller the hydrated radius, the more important the activity effects become. (less ionic atmosphere means the solution will behave in a way that more accurately reflects its concentration)
Potential difference
The difference in electrical potentials between two points. Allows work to be done.
Work is done when a charge carrier (electron) is moved through a potential difference.
Potentiometry
Analytical technique that allows analyte concentration to be determined by measuring the potential difference within an electrochemical cell.