Chapters 22-25: Electroanalytical Chemistry Flashcards
What is the branch of chemistry concerned
with the interrelation of electrical and chemical effects.
Electrochemistry
General Advantages of Electroanalytical Methods
How particular are electrochemical measurements?
particular for specific oxidation
states.
Can distinguish between Fe2+ and Fe3+
General Advantages of Electroanalytical Methods
Are electrochemical instrumentation expensive or inexpensive?
Electrochemical instrumentation is relatively inexpensive.
Typically electrochemical instrumentation costs between $10,000-30,000.
A complete spectroscopic instrument may cost
$50,000 - $250,000.
Applications of
Electroanalytical/Electrochemical
Methods
- Determine rate constants of reactions
- Electroless deposition
- Electrosynthesis and catalysis
- Measure mass transfer
- Photoelectrochemistry (photovoltaic devices)
- Analysis of ions (pH) and heavy metals
- Coatings, galvanization, electroplating, corrosion
- Examine the electron transfer process of molecules
DEEM PACE
Terminology for Electrochemistry
What is a measure of the available energy to drive charge externally between two electrodes and is measured in volts (V), where 1 V = 1 joule/coulomb (J/C)?
Cell potential (E)
Terminology for Electrochemistry
What is a measure of the amount of charge that passes in a unit time interval (i.e. rate of flow of electrons) and is measured in ampere (A), where 1 A = 1 coulomb/second (C/s)?
Electrical current (I)
Terminology for Electrochemistry
What is a measure of
a materials opposition to the flow of
electrical current and is measured in
ohms (Ω)?
Electrical resistance (R)
Terminology for Electrochemistry
What relates potential (volts), current (amps), and resistance (ohms). Potential = current × resistance (V=IR) ?
Ohm’s Law
Terminology for Electrochemistry
What is a measure of the number electrons passed in an electrical the circuit. Electrical charge (Q) is measured in terms of the total charge expressed in units of coulombs (C), where 1 C is equivalent to 6.24 × 1018 electrons?
Electrical charge (Q)
Terminology for Electrochemistry
What relates charge and the amount of product formed where 96485.4 C causes 1 equivalent of reaction (e.g. - consumption
of 1 mole of reactant or production of 1 mole of product in a oneelectron reaction.) ?
Faraday’s law
Terminology for Electrochemistry
What is a measure of the rate at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit and is measured in watts (W), where 1 W = 1 J/s?
Power (P)
Fundamental Concepts of Electrochemistry
What is a chemical species that loses an electron (becomes more positive, less negative)?
Oxidation
Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e-
Fe2+ + Ce4+ → Fe3+ + Ce3+
Fundamental Concepts of Electrochemistry
What is a chemical species that gains an electron (becomes more negative, less positive)?
Reduction
Ce4+ + e-→ Ce3+
Fe2+ + Ce4+ → Fe3+ + Ce3+
Classification of Electrochemical Cells
How are electrochemical cells classified?
Electrochemical cells can be classified as either a galvanic cell or electrolytic cells.
Classification of Electrochemical Cells
What are galvanic cells?
A GALVANIC CELL is one in which reactions occur spontaneously at the electrodes when they are connected externally by a conductor. Often employed in converting chemical energy into electrical energy. Commercial applications include fuel cells, secondary (rechargeable) cells (e.g. - Pb-PbO2 storage batteries), and primary (nonrechargable) cells.
Classification of Electrochemical Cells
What are electrolytic cells?
An ELECTROLYTIC CELL is one in which reactions are affected by imposition of an external voltage greater than the open-circuit potential of the cell. These cells are frequently employed to carry our chemical reactions by expending electrical energy. Commercial processes include electrolytic synthesis (e.g. -
production of chlorine and aluminum), electrofining (e.g. - copper purfication), and electroplating (e.g. - silver and gold).
Electrochemically Driving Equilibrium with Ferrocene
Electrochemical reaction for Ferrocene
Ferrocene (Fc) ⇌ Ferrocinium (Fc+) + e-
Typically starting conditions:
- 0.5 mM Fc + 0.5 mM Fc+
- 0.1 M TBAP
Typically starting conditions:
- acetonitrile solvent (ACN)
E0 for Fc → Fc+ is + 0.31 V SCE
Experimental Aspects of Electroanalytical Methods
The overall chemical reaction taking place in a cell is made up of two independent
half reactions, which describe the real chemical changes at the two electrodes.
However, most of the time, electrochemists are interested only in one of these
reactions. The electrode at which this occurs is called the WHAT?
Working (indicator) electrode
Experimental Aspects of Electroanalytical Methods
To focus on the working electrode, chemists standardize the other half reaction of
the cell using a WHAT?, which has a known potential that approaches ideal characteristics.
Reference electrode
Experimental Aspects of Electroanalytical Methods
What happens if the passage of current does not affect the potential of the reference electrode (i.e. - the resistance is
small say 1-2 mV) ?
The two electrode cell can be used for electrochemical measurements.