How to tell the difference between a reducing agent and an oxidising agent
Reducing agents are oxidised, they donate and lose electrons
Oxidising agents are reduced, they accept and gain electrons
How would you define a half cell
A strip of metal dipped into a solution of its own ions can be called an electrode or a half cell- when the strip of metal is dipped in solution of its an ions an equilibrium is set up
Using Cu+ as an example, explore how the equilibrium is reached
How does a voltage reading identify where the equilibrium lies
If there is a large voltage, the equilibrium is to the right
If there is a small voltage, the equilibrium is to the left
Describe how you would connect two half cells
The two metal rods are connected with wires and a high resistance voltmeter
The two beakers of electrolyte are connected with a salt bridge to complete the circuit. This is a glass tube or porous material soaked in potassium nitrate solution
Why is KNO3 a suitable solution for a salt bridge
KNO3 is unreactive with the electrodes and the ions are free to move
What is the role of the voltmeter and what happens if it was removed or replaced
Prevents electrons flowing and enables the voltage to be measured, if the voltage meter was removed electrons can flow from the left electrode to the right
If the voltmeter is replaced with an ammeter or a bulb, the electrons can flow and a current is produced
Why might the current produced by a cell fall to 0 after some time
All the reactants are used up
What will happen to a cell once the reactants are used up
Stops working or starts to leak
Why is platinum a suitable electrode
Pt is unreactive and conducts electricity
Key points for SHE
What does it mean that the SHE is defined as 0
If another electrode is connected up to the standard hydrogen electrode and voltage between them is measured
The standard electrode potential of Cu2+/Cu is 0.37 V. Why might the electrode potential of the following cell not be 0.37V
The concentration of the CuSO4 solution is not 1moldm-3
Give an example of how to write conventional cell representation using Zinc and Copper
Zn(s)I Zn2+(aq)II Cu2+(aq)I Cu(s)
what des the conventional cell representation show?
That at the left electrode, Zinc is oxidised to Zn2+ and at the right electrode Cu2+ is reduced to Cu
Key facts for electrode potential
on which side is the SHE always written on
the left
using a table, how can you identify which is the strongest oxidising agent and which is the weakest reducing agent
the substance with the most positive E° is the weakest reducing agent on the right and the strongest oxidising agent on the left
Why will Ag+ ions react with Li
the E° Ag+ is greater than E° for Ag+ and Ag+ is a stronger oxidizing agent
what will be observed when Ag+ reacts with Li
Solid Ag forms
What happens when Li+ is added to Ag
E° Ag is greater than E° Li+ and Li+ cannot oxidise Ag
Identify a chemical that reacts with Cu
Ag+ because E° Ag+ is greater than E°Cu
how to calculate EMF
Right-left/ reduction-oxidation/ more positive-least positive
Write an equation for the cell discharge of Silver and Lithium
Ag+(aq) + Li(s) –> Ag(s) + Li+ (s)