Electrochemistry Flashcards
Define electrochemistry
Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the relation between chemical energy and electrical energy
Types of electrochemical reactions
Induced electrolytic reactions, spontaneous oxidation reduction reactions
What are induced electrolytic reaction
non-spontaneous reactions are forced to occur by the passage of electricity through the reactants
what are spontaneous oxidation reduction reactions
electricity is generated by the interaction of reactants
3 applications of electrochemical reactions
1) The electrolytic production of metals and their compounds
2) Study of industrial materials
3) Manufacture of batteries
4) Psychological studies of nervous systems in living organisms
What is a cell
Device which converts chemical energy to electrical energy. It is also known as voltaic cell or galvanic cell.
What is the arrangement of a cell
It is an arrangement of 2 electrodes and an electrolytic solution
What is a half cell
Part of cell which contains an electrode dipped in an electrolyte
Define an electrode
Metallic material in the form of a rod, wire or strip, which conducts electrons and it is in contact with electrolyte
Difference between anode and cathode
Anode is an electrode where oxidation takes place.
Cathode is an electrode where reduction takes place.
What is an electrolyte?
any substances which allow the passage of electric current through is, either in molten state or in solution.
eg. acids, bases, salts
Define electrolysis
Process of decomposition of an electrolyte by the passage of electricity
Define current
Flow of electric charge
Difference between anode and cathode compartment
Anode compartment is the half cell in which oxidation reaction takes place.
Cathode compartment is the half cell in which reduction reaction takes place.
What are electrochemical cells
devices in which redox reaction takes place indirectly and the decrease in potential energy is converted to electrical energy
What is a salt bridge
U shaped glass tube containing electrolytes like KCl, KNO3 etc. in semisolid agar agar
Advantages of salt bridge
1) Salt bridge maintains the electrical neutrality of each half cell and prevents the accumulation of ions in the electrode
2) Maintains the flow of current by completing the circuit
Different types of electrodes used in electrochemical cells
Metal-Metal ion electrode Metal-Metal insoluble salt electrode Gas electrode Redox electrode Ion selective electrode
Define Metal-metal ion electrode
a metal rod is immersed in its own salt solution. The electrode is represented as M/Mn+
eg. Zn electrode [Zn,Zn2+]
Define metal-metal insoluble salt electrode
a metal coated by its sparingly insoluble salt is immersed in a solution containing a common ion. The electrode is represented as M/MX//X-
Define Gas electrode
An inert metal (Au/Pt) is immersed in a solution containing ions of a gas. The gas is continuously bubbled through the solution. The electrode is represented as Pt/X2(gas at 1atm P)/X+
eg. Standard Hydrogen Electrode
Define Redox electrode
An inert metal is immersed in a solution containing ions of the same substance in 2 oxidation states. The electrode is represented as Pt/Mn1+/Mn2+(gas at 1atm P)/X+
eg. Quinhydron electrode
Define Ion Selective electrode
It is a sensor that converts the concentration of a specific ion dissolved in a solution into an electric potential, which can be measured.
It consists of an internal reference electrode (Pt/Ag, AgCl electrode) and a reference solution sealed in an ion selective membrane. The electrode is represented as Pt/0.1M HCl/Glass/Test H+ solution
eg. glass electrode
Define electrode potential
Tendency of a metallic electrode to lose or gain electrons when it is in contact with its own salt solution
Define oxidation and reduction reactions
Oxidation is the tendency of an electrode in a half cell to lose electrons
Reduction is the tendency of an electrode to gain electrons
define Helmholtz electrical double layer
The residual electrons in the metal and the metal cations in the solution create an electrical double layer known as Helmholtz electrical double layer.
The factors on which the value of electrode potential depends
1) Nature of the metal
2) Concentration of the solution
3) Temperature of the solution