Electrochemistry Flashcards
How do you measure reactivity?
by how easily elements lose electrons or are oxidised
Electrode Potential Definition
the electrode potential of a metal is a measurement of the tendency of a metal to lose electrons i.e the ability to be oxidised
how would you measure Electrode Potential
using a voltaic cell
what does a voltaic cell do?
a voltaic cell uses a spontaneous chemical reaction to generate electric current
if 2 different metals e.g. copper and zinc are immersed in an electrolyte e.g. a dissolved sulfate salt, what happens?
one metal is oxidised and one metal is reduced
electrolyte
a substance that can conduct electricity easily, in the molten or dissolved state, usually a salt or an ionic compound
oxidation of zinc (2)
Zn - 2e- -> Zn2+
reduction of copper ions (2)
Cu+2 +2e- -> Cu
what provides the electric power for the voltaic cell?
the difference in the oxidation potential of the two metals provides the electric power of cell, registered on the voltmeter
if one metal was replaced with another in a voltaic cell
a different voltage would be observed
if zinc was replaced with lead
the voltage would be less as lead has less of a tendency to lose electrons than zinc
if zinc was replaced with magnesium
the voltage would be higher as magnesium has a greater tendency to lose electrons than zinc
reference cell for chemists for measuring all electrode potentials
hydrogen half cell
hydrogen half cell
consists of a platinum electrode (inert) immersed in a solution of H+ ions, with hydrogen gas bubbled over the electrode
electrochemical series
a list of metals in order of their ability to lose electrons or be oxidised
metals at the top of the electrochemical series ( Electrode Potential)
highly electropositive
metals at the bottom of the electrochemical series (Electrode Potential)
less electropositive
metals at the top of the electrochemical series (reactivity)
extremely reactive
metals at the bottom of the electrochemical series (reactivity)
less reactive
metals at the top of the electrochemical series (stability)
form very stable compounds
metals at the bottom of the electrochemical series (stability)
form less stable compounds
metals at the top of the electrochemical series (nature)
not free in nature (very reactive)
metals at the bottom of the electrochemical series (nature)
can be found free in nature
one last thing about metals at the top of the electrochemical series
they will displace those lower down from a solution of their salts
Acronym to remember the electrochemical series
little polly can seldom marry a zulu in the lovely honolulu causing many strange glances
little
lithium
polly
potassium
can
calcium
seldom
sodium
marry
magnesium
a
aluminium
zulu
zinc
in
iron
the
tin
lovely
lead
honolulu
hydrogen
causing
copper
many
mercury
strange
silver
glances
gold
reaction between sodium and zinc chloride
metals higher up in Ec.s displace those lower down
2Na + ZnCl2 -> Zn + 2 NaCl
equation for scrap iron used to extract copper metal from a solution of its salts
Fe + Cu2+ -> Cu(↓) + Fe+2