Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Cells - exam practice
Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Cells
Question 1 of 10
Potassium sulfite, K2SO3, is used as a preservative in some foods and drinks.
Food safety laws permit a maximum of 0.500 g of K2SO3 per kg of sausage meat.
A scientist uses a manganate(VII) titration to determine how much K2SO3 a sample of sausage meat contains.
Step 1: the K2SO3 from 1.00 kg of sausage meat is extracted to form a solution containing aqueous SO32- ions.
Step 2: the solution from step 1 is made up to 250.0 cm3 in a volumetric flask with water. 25.0 cm3 of this diluted solution is pipetted into a conical flask.
Step 3: the pipetted solution from step 2 is acidified with dilute sulfuric acid and then titrated with 1.20 x 10-2 mol dm-3 solution of potassium manganate(VII), KMnO4.
The equation for this titration is:
2MnO4-(aq) + 6H+(aq) + 5SO32-(aq) ➔ 2Mn2+(aq) + 3H2O(l) + 5SO42-(aq)
10.40 cm3 of KMnO4(aq) is required to reach the endpoint.
Analyse the results to determine whether the amount of potassium sulfite in sausage meat is above or below the legal limit.
Define the term standard electrode potential.
The table below shows the standard electrode potentials, E⦵. of two half-equations.
Write the conventional representation of the cell used to measure the standard electrode potential for the Ag+/Ag electrode.
A standard Cu2+(aq)/Cu(s) half-cell is connected to a standard Ag+(aq)/Ag(s) half-cell. The potential of the cell is measured.
Write down the equation for the overall cell reaction.
Include state symbols.
Give the value of E⦵ cell for the cell in part c).
Water is then added to the half-cell.
Explain, in terms of equilibrium, how the cell potential changes when water is added.
Chlorine dioxide, ClO2, has several uses including in the purification of water.
ClO2 is made by reacting ClO3- with concentrated hydrochloric acid.
2ClO3- + 4H+ + 2Cl- ⇌ 2ClO2 + 2H2O + Cl2
The table below shows some electrode potential data.
Use data in the table above to explain why the formation of ClO2 via the equation above does not occur under standard conditions.
Suggest why the forward reaction for the formation of ClO2 does occur in the presence of concentrated hydrochloric acid.
A Cu2+(aq)/Cu(s) half-cell is used to confirm the E⦵ of a Cl2(aq)/Cl-(aq) half-cell.
Complete and label the diagram of the apparatus the student would set up.
Include state symbols.
Give the value of E⦵ cell for the cell in part c).
State and explain which way the electrons move when the cell in part c) delivers a current.
State the meaning of the term electochemical series.
Standard electrode potentials for three redox systems are shown in the table below.
Use information in the table below to predict three reactions that might be feasible.
Write the overall equation for each predicted reaction.
Give two reasons why it is uncertain whether reactions predicted from E⦵ values may actually take place.
In the table above, state the strongest reducing agent and the strongest oxidising agent.
Explain your reasoning.
The table below shows two standard electrode potentials, E⦵.
Calculate E⦵cell.
Write the cell equation that produced the E⦵cell value calculated in part a).
The diagram below shows a non-rechargeable cell that can be used to power electronic devices.
Standard electrode potentials of the relevant half-equations for this cell are shown in the table below.
Use data in the table to calculate the e.m.f of this cell.
Write an equation for the overall reaction that occurs when the cell discharges.
Identify which of A or B in the diagram is the positive electrode.
Explain your reasoning.
Suggest one reason, other than cost, why the Zn-MnO2 cell is not recharged.
The e.m.f of a rechargeable lithium cell is 2.90 V.
The simplified reactions taking place at each electrode are:
Electrode A: Li+ + CoO2 + e- ➔ LiCoO2 E⦵= -0.15 V
Electrode B: Li+ + e- ➔ Li
Electrode B is the negative electrode.
Calculate a value for the electrode potential, E⦵, of electrode B.
Write an equation for the overall reaction that occurs when this lithium cell is being recharged.
Deduce the oxidation state of the cobalt in this cell before recharging begins.
State one environmental advantage of this rechargeable lithium cell compared with non-rechargeable cells.
Hydrogen–oxygen fuel cells are used to provide electrical energy for electric motors in vehicles.
In an alkaline hydrogen–oxygen fuel cell, a current is generated that can be used to drive an electric motor.
The reactions that occur are:
2H2(g) + 4OH-(aq) ➔ 4H2O(l) + 4e-
O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e- ➔ 4OH-(aq)
Use these half-equations to explain how an electric current can be generated.
Explain why a fuel cell does not need to be recharged.
To provide energy for a vehicle, hydrogen can be used either in a fuel cell or in an internal combustion engine.
Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage of using hydrogen in a fuel cell rather than in an internal combustion.
Direct-ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are being developed in which the fuel is ethanol rather than hydrogen.
Suggest two advantages of using ethanol as the fuel in a fuel cell rather than hydrogen.
Draw a fully labelled diagram of the experimental set-up you could use to measure the standard electrode potential of the V3+(aq)/V2+(aq) electrode. Include the necessary chemicals.
State the three standard conditions needed for this measurement.
The salt bridge typically contains a solution of potassium nitrate.
Give two reasons why potassium nitrate can be used as a salt bridge.
The table below shows some standard electrode potentials.
| Redox system | Electrode half-equation | E^⦵^ (V) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | V^2+^(aq) + 2e^-^ ⇌ V_(s)_ | -1.18 |
| 2 | V^3+^(aq) + e^-^ ⇌ V^2+^(aq) | -0.26 |
| 3 | VO^2+^(aq) + 2H^+^(aq) + e^-^ ⇌ V^3+^(aq) + H_2_O_(l)_ | +0.34 |
| 4 | I_2(aq)_ + 2e^-^ ⇌ 2I^-^(aq) | +0.54 |
| 5 | VO_2_^+^(aq) + 2H^+^(aq) + e^-^ ⇌ VO^2+^(aq) + H_2_O_(l)_ | +1.00 |
Suggest how the E for the V3+(aq)/V2+(aq) electrode would differ from its E⦵ value if the concentration of V2+(aq) ions is reduced.
Explain your answer.
A solution containing iodide ions, I-, was added to an acidified solution containing vanadium(V) ions, VO2+.
Predict the oxidation state of the vanadium ions left at the end of the reaction.
Justify your prediction by calculating the E⦵cellfor any relevant reactions.
Write the ionic equation for any reaction(s) occurring.
Explain, using information in the table, whether the dispropotionation of V2+(aq) into V3+(aq) and V(s) is feasible under standard conditions.
Rechargeable lead-acid cells are used in car batteries. Each cell consists of a negative electrode made of Pb metal and a positive electrode made of PbO2. The electrolyte is H2SO4(aq).
When a lead-acid cell is in use, Pb2+ ions are precipitated out as PbSO4(s) at the negative electrode.
Pb(s) + SO42-(aq) ➔ PbSO4(s) + 2e-
Complete the half-equation for the reaction taking place at the positive electrode.
PbO2(s) + SO42-(aq) + .............. + .............. ➔ PbSO4(s) + ..............
Complete the graphs below to show how the voltage across a lead-acid cell and a H2/O2 fuel cell changes with time when each cell is used to provide an electric current.
Suggest a reason why;
- the voltage of the lead-acid cell changes after several hours,
- the voltage of the fuel cell remains constant.