EXPERIMENT 1 : GALVANIC CELL

OBJECTIVES
a) To measure the relative reduction potentials for a number of half cell
(redox) couples in galvanic cell
b) To develop and understanding of the movement of electrons, anions
and cations in galvanic cell
c) To study factors affecting cells potentials
d) To estimate the concentration of ions in solution using the Nernst
Equation

INTRODUCTION

PROCEDURE
A. Galvanic
Couples

cell

Reduction

Potentials

of

Several

Redox

1. Collect the Electrodes, Solutions and Equipment

Four small beakers are obtained and are filled with different
solutions with same concentration, which is 0.1 M Copper Nitrate,
Zinc Nitrate, Iron Sulphate and Magnesium Sulphate solutions.
The strips of copper, zinc and iron metal are polished with sand
paper and rinsed them with deionized water. The polished metals
are used as electrodes and are immersed them in their
respective solutions. The voltmeter is connected to the
electrodes by using crocodile clips.
2. Set Up the Copper/Zinc Cell
A copper strip is placed in the copper (II) nitrate solution and a
zinc strips is placed in the zinc (II) nitrate solution. A piece of
filter paper is rolled and flattens. Then, the rolled filter paper is
immersed in the potassium chloride until it is wet. This wet filter
paper is acted as salt bridge. The end of salt bridge is inserted
between two beakers.
3. Determine the Copper/Zinc Cell Potential
The potential at the voltmeter is read and recorded. The metal
strips that is served as the cathode and the anode are identified.
4. Repeat for the Remaining Cells
The cell potentials for all possible galvanic cells that can be
constructed from the other redox couples are determined. A new
salt bridge is prepared for each galvanic cell.
5. Determine the Relative Reduction Potentials
The reduction of the Zn2+ (0.1 M) / Zn redoc couple is 0.79 V is
assumed. Then, the reduction potentials of all other redox
couples are determined. All the calculations and data results are
presented together in this report.

B. Effect of Concentration Changes on Cell Potential

1. Effect of Different Molar Concentrations
The galvanic cell is set up using 1 M copper sulphateand 0.001 M
copper sulphate solutions. A polished copper electrode is

immersed in each solution. A salt bridge is prepared to connect

the two redox couples. The cell potential is measured. The anode
and cathode are determined.

2. Effect of Complec Formation

5 ml of 6 M of ammonia solution is added to the 0.001 M copper
sulphate, until all precipitate is redissolved. The changes in the
half-cell and the cell potential are observed.
C. The Nernst Equation and an Unknown Concentration
1. Prepare the Diluted Solutions
Solution 1 through 4 as outlined are prepared using 1 ml pipette
and 100 ml volumetric flask. The apparatus that are used are
rinsed with more concentrated solution before making the
transfer. The deionized water is used for dilution to the
calibration mark in the volumetric flask. The molar concentration
of each solution is calculated.
2. Measure and Calculate the Cell Potential for Solution 4
The Zn2+ / Zn redox couple is used as the reference half-cell for
this part of the experiment. The two half-cells are connected with
a new salt bridge. The electrodes are connected to the
potentiometer and the potential differences are recorded. The
theoretical cell potential is calculated.
3. Measure and Calculate the Cell Potentials for Solution 3
and 2
Part C2 is repeated with solution 3 and 2 respectively. A freshly
prepared salt bridge is required for each cell.
4. Plot the Data
Ecell(measured) and Ecell(calculated) vs log [Cu2+] is plotted on a graph paper
for the four concentrations of copper(II) nitrate solutions.
5. Determine the concentration of the Unknown
A copper (II) nitrated solution with and unknown copper ion
concentration are obtained and a galvanic cell is set up. The
unknown copper ion concentration in the solution is determined
through the graph.

CALCULATIONS

DISCUSSION
In this experiment, a galvanic cell is conducted to measure the relative
reduction potentials for a number of half-cell couples in a galvanic cells, to
develop and understanding of the movement of electrons, anions and
cations in galvanic cell, to study factors affecting cells potentials and to
estimate the concentration of ions in solution using the Nernst Equation.
There are three segments of procedures, which are for Procedure A,
its all about the reduction potentials of several redox couples. For
Procedure B, this experiment the effect of different concentration on cell
potential and Procedure C apply the Nernst equation and determine the
unknown concentration of copper ion through a graph.
Based on the data and the result that are showed in the previous
pages, for Experiment 1, it can be concluded that there are big difference
of measured and calculated reduction potential. For redox couple between
Cu-Fe, the reduction potential differences between measured and
calculated are not as big as Zn-Fe and Cu-Zn. The percentage error for CuFe redox couple just 35.8%. However, for a redox couples that are used
zinc (Zn) electrodes indicates a huge percentage error. For Zn-Fe redox
couples, the percentage error is 185.71% and Cu-Zn gives 95.6%. These
percentage error are quite high due to several error while conducting
these experiments.
The first error is while polishing the strips, probably it is not wellpolished. Moreover, it can be said that the zinc strips are having problem
as there are several zinc stripes in different forms that cant be
differentiate by naked eyes.
For Experiment 2, the cell potential of concentration cell is 0.04 V
and the cell potential from complex formation gives 0.1 V. The colour
change of copper sulphate solution in half-cell is recorded. The colour
change from pale blue to blue after 5 ml of 6 M of ammonia solution is
added into 0.001 M copper sulphate solution. Furthermore, the cell
potential is changed after the addition of 6M of ammonia solution. This 6
M ammonia is high enough to make the potential increases.

For Experiment 3, there are some errors while conducting this

experiment. Firstly, while diluting the copper solution, probably while
pipetting the 1 ml of this solution is not accurate. Furthermore, while
diluting copper solution to the calibration mark, the eye level is not
parallel to the meniscus. Based on the result, the molar concentration of
Cu2+ in the unknown is 0.1 M.
There are some precaution steps that can be taken for further
preferences. Firstly, while conducting the experiment, it has to be sure to
wear gloves while pouring the chemicals into the apparatus. Secondly, all
the apparatus have to be clean up with deionized water or with more
concentrated chemicals before using them. Thirdly, the strips should be
identified and being polished as clean as possible.

CONCLUSION
The relative reduction potentials for a number of half-cell couples in a
galvanic cell are measured. For Cu-Fe redox couple, the percentage error
is 35.8%, Zn-Fe gives 75.6% and the highest percentage error is 95.6%
comes from Cu-Zn redox couple. For Experiment B, the cell potential of
concentration cell is 0.04 V and cell potential from complex formation
gives 0.1 V. these increasing in potentials happen after the addition of 6 M
of ammonia, NH3 into copper sulphate solution. Next, Experiment C the
molar concentration of the unknown copper is identified and it is 0.1 M.
REFERENCES