ChemLab - 12. Electrochemistry - Voltaic Cells

Summary

In this electrochemistry experiment, students explore the relationship between different concentrations of copper sulfate and zinc sulfate solutions using zinc and copper electrodes. A multimeter is employed to measure the voltage across the electrodes, with connections made via wires to the multimeter's red and black inputs. The voltage is observed, recorded, and then divided by 1000 for further calculations. The procedure is repeated for various solutions, and the maximum voltage (vmax) and standard electrode potential (E0 cell) are calculated based on the data gathered.

Takeaways

• 😀 Use copper sulfate and zinc sulfate at different concentrations for the experiment.
• 😀 Prepare 50 milliliters of copper sulfate and zinc sulfate in separate beakers.
• 😀 Connect the zinc electrode to the black wire and the black side of the multimeter.
• 😀 Connect the copper electrode to the red wire and the red side of the multimeter.
• 😀 Set the multimeter to measure voltage using the DCV 2000 setting.
• 😀 Use a salt bridge with a potassium sulfate solution to complete the circuit.
• 😀 Immerse the copper electrode in copper sulfate and the zinc electrode in zinc sulfate.
• 😀 Observe and record the voltage readings from the multimeter.
• 😀 Convert the recorded voltage by dividing it by 1000 for calculation.
• 😀 Repeat the procedure with different concentrations of the solutions.
• 😀 Calculate the maximum voltage (Vmax) and standard electrode potential (E0 cell) from the collected data.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the experiment described in the script?

The purpose of the experiment is to observe and measure the voltage produced in an electrochemical cell using different concentrations of copper sulfate and zinc sulfate solutions.

What materials are required for the experiment?

The materials required include copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, beakers, a multimeter, copper and zinc strips, wires, a salt bridge, and potassium sulfate solution.

How are the electrodes connected in the experiment?

The zinc electrode is connected to the black wire, which is then connected to the black side of the multimeter. The copper electrode is connected to the red wire, which is connected to the red side of the multimeter.

What role does the multimeter play in this experiment?

The multimeter is used to measure the voltage produced by the electrochemical cell. It is set to measure DC voltage at the 2000 mV setting.

What is the function of the salt bridge in the experiment?

The salt bridge, containing potassium sulfate, connects the two solutions and allows the flow of ions to complete the circuit, ensuring that the electrochemical reaction can occur.

How are the electrodes positioned in the solutions?

The copper electrode is dipped into the copper sulfate solution, while the zinc electrode is dipped into the zinc sulfate solution.

What measurement is recorded in the experiment?

The voltage produced by the electrochemical cell is recorded using the multimeter.

Why is the voltage divided by 1000 after measurement?

The voltage is divided by 1000 to convert the millivolt reading into volts, making the measurement easier to interpret.

What should be done with the voltage data gathered from the experiment?

The recorded voltage values are used to calculate the maximum voltage (Vmax) and the standard cell potential (E0 cell) of the electrochemical cell.

How is the experiment repeated with different solutions?

The same procedure is applied to different solutions by varying the concentrations of the copper sulfate and zinc sulfate solutions.