Electrochemical cell Definition and 31 Threads

An electrochemical cell is a device capable of either generating electrical energy from chemical reactions or using electrical energy to cause chemical reactions. The electrochemical cells which generate an electric current are called voltaic cells or galvanic cells and those that generate chemical reactions, via electrolysis for example, are called electrolytic cells. A common example of a galvanic cell is a standard 1.5 volt cell meant for consumer use. A battery consists of one or more cells, connected in parallel, series or series-and-parallel pattern.

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  1. pravashwara

    B High voltage batteries and charge distribution

    Homework Statement: If we touch a metal spoon on the anode of high voltage battery. Then what charges will accumulate on the spoon, positive or negative? Relevant Equations: No such a equation I think, negative charges because electrode equilibrium in the anode says some electrones acculilate...
  2. yucheng

    Chemistry How Does Electrolyte Type Influence Voltage in Galvanic Cells?

    I was watching this video that I found on Youtube. My question is, does type of electrolyte affect the voltage reading, since it dictates which redox reactions are possible? (here, Na2SO4 instread of CuSO4) Consider a Mg|Cu electrode pair in a galvanic cell; the reaction is, usually in...
  3. Dario56

    Understanding the Role of a Voltmeter in Electrode Potential Measurement

    Voltmeter is an instrument which measures electric potential difference between two points. When measuring electrode potential of some redox system (vs SHE for example), it is said that voltmeter reading contains sum of all potential differences present in a cell. This includes all...
  4. Dario56

    Why Does Electrical Work Cause Changes in the Internal Energy of a System?

    If we look at system at constant temperature and volume which is galvanic cell, first law of thermodynamics states: $$ dU = dQ + dW' $$ Where W' is electrical work done by galvanic cell and Q is heat exchanged with surroundings. As far as I know electrical work is work done by electric field...
  5. Miles123K

    Products of Concentrated Barium Chloride Electrolysis?

    I did an electrolysis experiment with 1.6M Barium Chloride solution and the electrolyte turned black after the electrolysis. I am fairly positive that Chlorine was produced at the anode from the smell. However, Ba(OH)2 is colorless. I used graphite electrodes for this experiment. Does anyone...
  6. cianfa72

    Voltaic Cell behaviour as described in this video

    Hi, googling for Voltaic cell I found this video about it. At minute 2:35 to 2:54 you can see that, without any electrical conductor connected between electrodes, in the Copper half-cell the metal electrode (Cathode) gets an amount of negative charges (electrons). Basically what described there...
  7. K

    Both electrodes in same electrolyte? [Electrochemical cell]

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  8. cianfa72

    Daniell cell initial equilibrium

    Hello, consider again a simple Daniell cell with salt bridge in place but no external electric connection between electrodes. Reading from some source e.g. link1 it seems upon Zinc and Copper metal rods are dipped into their own ions solution, both will gain a negative charge (-) due to an...
  9. cianfa72

    Galvanic cell - open circuit voltage and EMF

    Hi, having not a deep knowledge of electrochemistry I've some doubts about processes involved in a galvanic cell. Take for instance a Zn/Cu Daniell cell for which E0cell is 1,10V. That means emf for it is 1,10V. Starting to read from how battery works I had a first understanding of how...
  10. L

    Potentiostat and powersource in electrochemical cell

    Hi, Could someone please explain to me some terminology. Is a potentiostat considered a "power source" for an electrochemical cell (the cell is for the CO2 reduction reaction). An example of this type of cell can be seen here...
  11. A

    The Nernst Equation- I apologize in advance for my ignorance

    Ecell = E0cell - (RT/nF)lnQ So I understand the Nernst Equation, but I don't have some info. (Please bare with me, I'm in secondary) I'm doing a Cu - Al cell. My E cell is negative (-1.33). Does this have an affect on the equation? What exactly does E0 stand for? I understand how to find E...
  12. N

    How do I calculate the cell potential?

    < Mentor Note -- thread moved to HH from the technical chemistryforum, so no HH Template is shown > I was given this problem: A voltaic sell uses the reaction 4Fe3+ + H2 --> 2Fe2+ +2H+. Find the cell potential when [Fe3+]=1.50 M, PH2=.50 atm, and [Fe2+]=.00100 M and the pH of both anode and...
  13. AnkurGarg

    Electrochemical cell electrode potential difference

    In our textbook it is written that -voltmeter measures the electrode potential difference between 2 half cells (in an electrochemical cell) (electrode potential refers to the potential difference between electrode and its salt solution in which it is dipped) it should come-voltmeter measures...
  14. S

    What is the importance of the solution in an electrochemical cell?

    I'm wondering about the importance of the electrolytic solution in an electrochemical cell. For example, we have Zn/ZnSO4 and Cu/CuSO4. According to the electrochemical series, Zn will reduce Cu, and we will have a reaction. Zn(s) -> Zn2+(aq), Cu2+(aq) -> Cu(s). So there MUST be Cu2+ in the...
  15. K

    Me With An Electrochemical Cell and Equivalence.

    Hi, Please don't be spooked by the long post, it's just that it contains two problems (I beg your pardon if I shouldn't have put both in one post, I just figured it'll be better than creating two posts...). I can't figure how to solve these, so if you please could please help me with...
  16. D

    Difference between Voltage Bias in STM/STS vs. Electrochemical Cell

    Hello Everyone, I am a student studying electrochemistry – specifically energy storage devices. I have been familiarizing myself with various techniques to characterize the electrode surfaces. In particular, I am interested Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) / Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy...
  17. U

    Is Farady's law applicable to electrochemical cell

    Farady's law are derived for electrolysis. My question is the same rule can be applied in the analysis of electrochemical cell? I think those two cell (electrolytic and electrochemical) are just opposite functional to each other.
  18. S

    What makes electron flow in an electrochemical cell

    So, here is my question we know about an electrochemical cell in which when zink rod and copper rod are dipped in there respective solutions the electron flow from zink rod to cu ... but what makes those electron to flow ... here comes the answer the potential difference did that ... please...
  19. S

    Electrochemical cell question - strip on Zn in contact with zn2+/CN solution

    The potential at which a metal is deposited in the electrowinning process can significantly affect the quality of the deposit. The potential itself can be dramatically affected by the addition of complexing agents and by adjusting the pH of the solution as the following calculations demonstrate...
  20. C

    Electrolysis (Chemistry) with electrochemical cell

    How does concentration of solution (So42) affect the voltage in a electro-chemical cell?
  21. G

    Voltage of electrochemical cell

    hi i was wondering if somebody of you knows something about this stuff? it is about an electrochemical cell that is made of zinc and copper in sulfuric acid. now the reaction is: Zn-> Zn(2+)+2e- 2H+ + 2e- ->H2 my problem is, that i do not know whether this...
  22. M

    Solving the Nernst Equation for Zn^2+ Concentration

    I built a cell with one side containing the solution 0.10 M CuSO4 with Cu(s) in it. The other side has 1 M NH3 and 0.05 M ZnSO4 with Zn(s) in it. The measured cell potential was 1.31. I am using the Nernst equation. I need to find the concentration of Zn^2+. E=E"-(0.059/2)logQ 1.31 =...
  23. T

    Can an Electrochemical Cell Without a Conductor Produce Voltage?

    Homework Statement let's say we have an electrochemical cell composed of 2 cups each cup contain a metal and the ions of that metal and an acidic componment like H2so4 the two cups arent attached with any kind of conductor if we try to measure the voltage with a voltmeter would it detect...
  24. R

    Recharging an electrochemical cell

    If you want to recharge an elctrochemical cell, which electrode do you supply with more electrons? My thinking was: There was a P.D. between the elctrodes but now that the cell is spent, the P.D. is lower. To create a P.D. again, you must make the negative electrode more nagative or the...
  25. N

    Electrochemical Cell | 75W Bulb | 50min | 12V Battery

    Homework Statement A 75.0-W light bulb is powered by connecting it to a standard 12.0 V auto lead-storage battery. How much energy (J) is required to keep the bulb burning for 50.0 continuous minutes ? Assume 100 percent efficency.Homework Equations 1 watt = 1 J/s 1 J = 1 C x 1 V The Attempt...
  26. W

    Silver-Cadmium Electrochemical Cell

    You are given the following materials:  Silver wire  A 0.10 mol L-1 solution of cadmium nitrate  Cadmium wire  A 0.10 mol L-1 solution of silver nitrate  A salt bridge  Copper wire  Beakers and other glassware as required Draw a labelled sketch of your cell. Describe...
  27. K

    Describe an electrochemical cell

    Describe an electrochemical cell that would determine the solubility product constant at equilibrium for cupric hydroxide and calculate it. I'm totally lost on this one, any help is greatly appreciated.
  28. P

    Finding which of two metals in an electrochemical cell reduces

    For an electrochemical cell containing two metals how do I figure out which one reduces and which one oxidizes using standard reduction potentials? Thank you very much for the help.
  29. M

    Which Electrode is the Cathode in an Electrochemical Cell?

    Hello everyone. I am having trouble with a question on electrochemical cells. I have to find the balanced REDOX reaction of the cell. All I am given is a diagram with the following information 1. Aluminum electrode submerged in 1 mol/L Aluminum Nitrate Al(NO3)3(aq) 2. Nickel electrode...
  30. cepheid

    Understanding Potential Difference in an Electrochemical Cell

    I have a problem that in my physics textbook, a source of EMF is just shown as a box having + and - terminals. The inner workings of that box need not be considered. They claim that although there is obviously an electrostatic force Fe due to this separation of charge, it is countered by a force...
  31. C

    Can Adding Electricity to an Electrochemical Cell Speed Up the Reaction?

    Hello, everyone. I have a project for science fair that I would like to do, but I need verification to see if this will work like I think it will. My experiment's name is "The Effects of Electricity and Configuration on an Electrochemical Cell". It's wordy, but what can I do? Anyhow, my...
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