electrochemistry Flashcards
secondary cell examples
lead acid accumulator, nicad cell, nimh cells
discharge
conversion of chem energy to electrical as a result of a spontaneous reaction
secondary cells
rechargeable cells or accumulators
- when secondary cell discharges acts as a galvanic cell which converts chemical energy to electrical energy
- when cell is recharged it will act as an electrolytic cell and electrical energy is converted to chemical energy - will require voltage for reaction bc non spontaneous
what must happen for a secondary cell to be recharged
-products of the discharge must remain in contact with the electrodes
-voltage higher than voltage produced in discharged is required
what is positive terminal connected to in recharge
the positive terminal of cell connects to positive terminal of power supply
recharging 2dary cells polarity
cathode is negative while anode is postitive
discharge - galvanic cells polarity
anode is neg and cathode is pos
NiCd battery discharge
oxidation- Cd+2OH- -> Cd(OH)2 + 2e-
reduction - NiO(OH) + H2O + e- -> Ni(OH)2 + OH-
recharge will be the other way around
lead acid battery
- secondary cells used in car and truck batteries
- need 12 V above total potential
- product of the discharge is PbSO4 which forms a solid on electrodes and allows battery to be recharged
lead acid battery discharge oxidation
anode oxidation
Pb+ H2SO4 -> PbSO4 + 2H+ + 2e-
lead acid battery discharge reduction
PbO2 + H2SO4 + 2H+ + 2e- -> PbSO4 + 2H2O
battery life
- used to describe battery cell performance
- technical specification of battery life refers to number of charge and discharge cycles before a battery becomes unstable
temp affect on battery life
temperature
- increase temp will mean battery deteriorates quicker
- as temp increases ROR of side reactions increase and decrease battery life
-temp decrease capacity of battery decreases and cell ROR decreases - less energy generated (electrical)
battery life factors
-reactants and products ay become detached from their electrodes
- reactants and products may be converted into inactive forms through side reactions
-corrosion of internal components
- leakage of electrolyte solution
-impurities in cell could react with products or reactants
self discharge
loss of electrical capacity of a battery due to deriation of battery components
- caused by side reaction , low temp and slow ROR
how can battery life be improved for non rechargeable cells
increase amount of _______ present
reduce SA of ___ anode and____cathode
store at consistent temp - avoid high temp
NiMH cells
electrolysis
electrical energy is converted to chemical energy via a nonspontaneous reaction using a power source
what are some uses of electrolysis
- convert ions into metals
-produce reactive materials eg aluminium and sodium - electrorefining - purifying metals
- recharging secondary cells
electrolysis
- ox at the positive anode
reduction at the negative cathode
anode to cathode electrons move
what does the external power source do
it will force the reaction to occur - will force the ions to seperate
- external power source pushes electrons to cathode
what state is molten
liquid
comparing molten with aqueous
molten will just seperate the ions but the aqueous also has water ( competition at the electrodes)
why is there a barrier or seperator in electrolysis
so the products and ions will not react with each other and will not interfere in the half cell reactions - allows for a spontaneous reaction to occur
what will react at the electrodes in electrolysis
strongest oxidising agent is reduced at cathode
stronger reducing agent is oxidised at anode
can be water
in a galvanic cell why must the reactants/ half cells be seperated
they do not want to have a direct reaction because it will reduce electrical energy generated and will produce thermal energy - need indirect to produce electricity and a voltage
what is needed for electrolysis of water
an electrolyte eg . KNO3
electrolysis of water equation
2H2O -> 2H2 + O2
electrolysis of water
- electrolyte KNO3 or other is added in low conc
- cathode becomes basic and anode becomes acidic
what are safety considerations of OH-
it is caustic
what are the safety implications of H+
corrosive
safety considerations of electrolysis of water
-H2 is flammable - keep away from naked flames
-H2 is hard to detect leaks - need detectors
- H2 is highly reactive - wear safety equiptment and store at high pressures
electroplating
application of electrolyisis when metal ions are reduced to form a solid metal coating on an object
what is being plated in electroplating
the cathode - it will gain ions from the anode to form solid metal coating
what is the polarity of where the deposits are in electroplating
negative because it is at the cathode