9.

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ELECTROCHEMICAL
CELLS
IB SL CHEMISTRY
MRS. PAGE

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 UNDERSTANDINGS
Voltaic (Galvanic) cells:
• Voltaic cells convert energy from spontaneous, exothermic
chemical processes to electrical energy.
• Oxidation occurs at the anode (negative electrode) and
reduction occurs at the cathode (positive electrode) in a
voltaic cell.
Electrolytic cells:
• Electrolytic cells convert electrical energy to chemical
energy, by bringing about non-spontaneous processes.
• Oxidation occurs at the anode (positive electrode) and
reduction occurs at the cathode (negative electrode) in an
electrolytic cell.

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APPLICATION & SKILLS
• Construction and annotation of both types of
electrochemical cells.
• Explanation of how a redox reaction is used to produce
electricity in a voltaic cell and how current is conducted
in an electrolytic cell.
• Distinction between electron and ion flow in both
electrochemical cells.
• Performance of laboratory experiments involving a
typical voltaic cell using two metal/metal-ion half-cells.
• Deduction of the products of the electrolysis of a molten
salt.
 LAW OF CONSERVATION
OF ENERGY

• Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it

can only be transformed from one type to
another.
• Energy is the capacity to do work.
• SI Unit: Joules
• Types of Energy: kinetic, potential, heat,
light, sound, chemical, mechanical
 ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
• Electrochemical cells convert between
chemical and electrical energy through the
transfer of electrons during redox reactions
• All electrochemical cell have:
• Electrodes: metallic electric conductor through which an
electric current enters or leaves an electrolytic cell.
• Electrolyte: A substance that dissociates into ions in
solution and gains the capacity to conduct electricity.
• Two types of Electrodes:
• Anode: where oxidation takes place
• Cathode: where reduction takes place
 ELECTROCHEMICAL
CELLS
• Exchange between chemical energy and electrical
energy
• 2 Types:
• Voltaic (Galvanic) Cells: convert spontaneous,
exothermic chemical reactions to electrical energy
• Electrolytic Cells: convert electrical energy to
chemical energy resulting in non-spontaneous reactions
occurring
 VOLTAIC (GALVANIC)
CELLS:
• Voltaic/Galvanic cell:
• Two different half-cells are connected together by a
salt bridge to allow electron transfer during the
redox reaction.
• Produces electrical energy.
• The electrons are produced at the half-cell that is
most easily oxidized.
• Cathode is positive electrode, where reduction
occurs (always drawn on the right)
• Anode is negative electrode, where oxidation
occurs. (on left)
 HOW IS A REDOX REACTION IS USED TO
PRODUCE ELECTRICITY IN A VOLTAIC CELL

½ Cell ½ Cell
 HOW IS A REDOX REACTION IS USED TO
PRODUCE ELECTRICITY IN A VOLTAIC CELL
• The reaction can be used to
perform electrical work.
• The transfer of electrons takes
place through an external pathway.
• Metal strips are placed in solutions
of their ions. The metal strips are
connected by a wire for flow of
electrons.
• The solutions are connected by a
salt bridge or separated by a
porous glass barrier. This maintains
electrical neutrality.
• Electrons flow from the anode to
the cathode.
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 HOW IS A REDOX REACTION IS USED TO
PRODUCE ELECTRICITY IN A VOLTAIC CELL

EXAMPLE: Daniell Cell (Zn &

Cu)
A strip of zinc is placed in a copper
solution.
• Write the oxidation reaction
• Write the reduction reaction
• Write the overall reaction
• Describe two observable changes 10
10
 DANIELL CELL ZN/CU VOLTAIC CELL
Date Book Table 24 Standard Electrode Potentials
If reaction is being reduced, change sign
of electrode potential!
Half Reactions:
Zn(s)  Zn2+(aq) + 2e- Eo = +0.76
V
Cu2+(aq) + 2e-  Cu(s) Eo = +0.34
V
---------------------------------------------
Net Redox Equation:
Cu2 +(aq) + Zn(s)  Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)
 HOW IS A REDOX REACTION IS USED TO
PRODUCE ELECTRICITY IN A VOLTAIC CELL
At the Zn Electrode (Anode):
• Oxidation occurs
• Electrons are produced and flow
through the external circuit
toward the cathode
• Zn2+ ions produced and migrate
away from the electrode
• Negative ions (anions) from the
salt bridge migrate into the
solution to balance the increase
in positive charges. 12
 HOW IS A REDOX REACTION IS USED TO
PRODUCE ELECTRICITY IN A VOLTAIC CELL

At the Cu electrode (Cathode):

• Reduction occurs
• Electrons move from the anode and
move into the electrode
• Cu2+ ions migrate to the electrode
and gain electrons producing Cu
• Positive ions (cations) from the salt
bridge migrate into the solution to
balance the decrease in positive
charges.
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 VOLTAIC (GALVANIC) CELLS
• Salt bridge: creates a circuit by allowing ions to
flow through to balance the ionic charges of the
solutions…

• Typical Salt Bridges (Na2SO4, KCl, KNO3)

• Electrons DO NOT flow through the salt bridge

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 CELL DIAGRAMS
• Simple way to represent voltaic cells.
• Anode is always on left and cathode on right
(alphabetical as your read left to right)
• Salt bridge is represented as parallel vertical
lines
• For Daniell Cell the Diagram would be:
• Zn(s)|Zn2+(aq) || Cu2+(aq)|Cu(s)
 CELL DIAGRAMS
• Show the cell diagram for the voltaic cell
below:
VOLTAIC (GALVANIC) CELLS

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VOLTAIC CELLS IN ACTION

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0VUsoeT9aM
 VOLTAIC CELLS
A voltaic cell similar to that shown in the previous slide is
constructed. One electrode compartment consists of a
cadmium strip placed in a solution of Cd(NO3)2 and the
other has a nickel strip placed in a solution of NiSO4.
Cadmium is a more reactive metal than nickel.
a) Write the half-reactions that occur in the two
electrode compartments. Write the overall reaction.
b) Which electrode is the anode and which is the
cathode?
c) Indicate the signs of the electrodes.
d) Which way do electrons flow?
e) In which directions do the cations and anions migrate19
through the solution?
 VOLTAIC CELLS
A voltaic cell is constructed. One ½ cell consists of a
silver strip placed in a solution of AgNO3 and the
other has a nickel strip placed in a solution of
Ni2NO3. Nickel is a more reactive metal than silver.

a) Write the half-reactions that occur in the two

electrode compartments. Write the overall reaction.
b) Which electrode is the anode and which is the
cathode?
c) Indicate the signs of the electrodes.
d) Which way do electrons flow?
e) In which directions do the cations and anions 20
migrate through the solution?
 ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
• Electrolysis: a process in which a
chemical reaction, is brought about by
passing an electric current through a
solution of electrolytes causing the
electrolyte's ions to move toward the
negative and positive electrodes.
• Electrical energy is used to cause a non-
spontaneous chemical reaction to occur.
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
• Electricity is supplied from an
external source (battery) and is
used to make a non-spontaneous
reaction take place.
• The substance that conducts
electricity in the cell is an
electrolyte (substance containing
ions).
• Electrolytes do not conduct when
solid because ions are not free to
move and they have no delocalized
electrons.
• Electrolytes do conduct when
molten or dissolved in water
because the ions are free to move
toward opposite charged electrodes
ELECTROLYTIC
CELLS
• The electrolyte conducts
electricity by the movement of
ions within it.
• 2 inert electrodes are placed in
the solution and attached to the
battery.
• Chemical reactions occur at each
electrode so that the electrolyte
is decomposed in the process.
2NaCl(l)  2Na(l) + Cl2(g)
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
• Oxidation occurs at the positive
electrode (anode) because negative
ions (anions) are attracted to it,
2Cl-(l)  Cl2(g) + 2e-

• Reduction occurs at the negative

electrode (cathode) because positive
ions (cations) are attracted to it.
Na+ + e-  Na(l)
• Overall Cell Reaction:
NaCl(l)  2Na(l) + Cl2(g)
 ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
Solving Electrolysis Problems:
1. Identify species present
2. Identify which species are attracted to anode (neg.
electrode) and cathode (pos. electrode)
3. Deduce ½ equations at each electrode
4. Deduce overall cell reaction
5. Draw and annotate electrolytic cell (show direction
of e- and ion flow)
6. State observations that will take place at each
electrode
 ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
Describe the electrolysis of a molten calcium
chloride?
1. Identify species present
• CaCl2  Ca2+ + 2Cl-
• Ca2+(l) and 2Cl-(l) are present
2. Identify which species are attracted to anode (ps.
electrode) and cathode (neg. electrode)
• Cathode (neg. electrode): Ca2+
• Anode (pos. electrode): Cl-
 ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
Describe the electrolysis of a molten calcium
chloride?

3. Deduce ½ equations at each electrode

• Cathode (neg.) Ca2+(l) + 2e-  Ca(l)
• Anode (pos.) 2Cl-(l)  Cl2(g) + 2e-
4. Deduce overall cell reaction
• Ca2+(l) + 2Cl-(l)  Ca(l) + Cl2(g)
 ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
Describe the electrolysis of a molten calcium
chloride?
5. Draw and annotate electrolytic cell (show direction of e- and ion
flow)

6. State observations that will take place at each electrode

• At anode there will be bubbles of chlorine gas
• At the cathode a pool of liquid calcium will form.
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS IN
ACTION
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxzs0HKRzEo
COMPARING VOLTAIC &
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
Create a chart, differentiating between:
• Charge of anode and cathode
• Site of oxidation and reduction
• Direction of electron flow
• Electrode that gains mass
• Electrode that loses mass
• Spontaneous or not
HOMEWORK
• Read pp. 226 – 232
• Quick Questions pp. 229 & 232

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