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An Investigation to Determine the Potential Energy of Voltaic Cells Using Different Metals

Niyanthesh Reddy
IB Standard Level Chemistry
Vanguard High School
March 201

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Table of Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................Page 3
Question.................................................................................................................. Page 4
Hypothesis................................................................................................................Page 4
Experimental Variables...........................................................................................Page 4
Materials/Procedures.............................................................................................Page 5-6
Results.................................................................................................................... Page 7-8
Conclusions..............................................................................................................Page 9
Bibliography........................................................................................................... Page 10

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Introduction
A Voltaic Cell is a cell which makes electrical energy using the oxidation-reduction reaction
between two different metals. As mentioned earlier, electrical current is made from connecting
any two metals and submerging them into a, metallic and "salt bridge" solution which creates a
conductive atmosphere. The concept of the oxidation-reduction reaction occurring between two
metals in a voltaic cell, is that when the cations of the two metals react with the anions of the salt
solution, an exchange of electrons occurs, creating electricity. In a voltaic cell, there are
electrodes, conductors used to allow the electron flow in a voltaic cell. One electrode will be the
anode and the other being the Cathode. The anode is negative and is the one that disintegrates. In
the Anode area, Oxidation occurs, and in the Cathode region, Reduction occurs.

In this diagram, the flow

of electrons between the copper

cathode and the zinc

anode are undergoing a reaction

generating a potential energy value of 1.10 Volts, by zinc donating electrons to copper ions. Cell
Potential, or the ability of a voltaic cell (electrochemical cell) to produce electricity, depends on
the concentration of substances, temperature, and the surrounding pressure. It is determined in
the formula....
Cell Potential = oxidation potential + reduction potential
Question

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How does the concentration of the salt solution and the differences of the two metals used in the
redox reaction, affect the electrical current potential? Which two metals generate the most
current?
Hypothesis
The concentration of the salt solution and the two metals used in the redox reaction occuring in
the voltaic cell, will generate different electrical currents.
Experimental Variables
Control Variable(s)

Salt Solution (H2SO4)

Experimental Apparatus
Temperature
Pressure
Concentration of Metal Solutions and Metals

Dependant Variable(s)
- Voltaic Cell Potential Energy
Independent Variable(s)
- Metal Solutions and Metals
Experimental Materials
1- Voltmeter Alligator Clip Leads
2- 100mL Beakers

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1- pH Meter
1 liter Water
1- Dropper
Reagents
- 5 mL 0.1 M Zn(No3)2
- 5 mL 0.1 M AgNo3
- 5mL 0.1 M Pb(No3)2
- 5 mL 0.1 M Cu(No3)2
- 2" Zinc wire
Metals
2" copper wire
2" Lead wire
2" lead wire
20 drops 3 M HCL
20 drops 3.0 M NaOH
30 mL H2SO4
PROCEDURE:

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Part A: Voltaic Cell
This test is used to measure the amount of emf is generated by the electrical current between two
different metals
1. Cut metal strips of Zinc, Magnesium, Silver, Iron, Aluminum, and Copper into 2 square
cm pieces
2. Smoothen them out with a sandpaper
3. Prepare 1.0 M solutions of Zn(NO3)2, Mg(NO3)2, Ag(NO3)2, Fe(NO3)2, Al(NO3)2, and
Cu(NO3)2
4. Pipette 5 mL of one of the metal's solutions (E.g. Cu(NO3)2) and connect it to the anode
side of the voltmeter
5. Prepare the salt bridge, using a cotton string in NaCl Solution (2.0 M)
6. Pipette 5mL of another metal (E.g. Zn(NO3)2) into the negative side (cathode) of the
well
7. Place the salt bridge between the beakers consisting of the salt bridge
8. Measure the emf of the two metal reactions (Oxidation-Reduction) in the Voltaic Cell
9. Repeat Steps 1- 8 for each other the different metal pairs used.

Results
Part A: Voltaic Cell Results

Anode

Mg

Cathode

Cu

Cell Reaction

Mg+Cu2->Mg2+Cu

Predicted Voltage

Actual Potential

Potential- (+ 1.10

Energy (Volts-V)-

V)

(+ 1.10 V)

1.36

2.71

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Fe

Cu

2Fe+3Cu2+-->

0.37

0.78

0.74

0.48

1.98

2.23

2Fe3+ +3Cu
Pb

Cu

Pb+Cu2+--> Pb2+
+Cu

Mg

Pb

Cu+2Ag+ --->
Cu2+ +2Ag
Pb2+(aq) + Fe(s)

Pb

Fe

Fe2+(aq) + Pb(s)
Zn + Fe2+

0.94

0.62

Zn

Fe

Zn2+ + Fe
3Cu+(aq) +

0.34

-0.29

Cu

Fe

Fe(s) 3Cu(s) +

-0.47

-0.51

Anode

Cu

Cathode

Mg

Fe3+(aq).
Cell Equation

Cu(s) + Mg2+

Predicted Values

Experimental

((+ 1.10 V)

Values (+ 1.10) V)

-1.32

-2.71

-1.71

-0.32

-2.38

-3.15

--> Cu2+ + Mg(s)

Fe

Zn

Fe(s) + Zn2+
---> Fe3+ + Zn(s)

Ag

Mg

Ag(s) + Mg2+
--> Ag+ + Mg(s

Data Table 2 (Cont.)

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The data tables 1-2 shown above show the oxidation-reduction reaction between two different
metals at standard temperature and pressure. The reaction shown above were conducted under a
2.0 Molar Salt Bridge Solution, and 1.0 Molar Metal Solutions (E.g. Mg(No3)2)). There was a
significant difference (+ .1.0) between the predicted and the actual potential energy values
between the half-cells. Reactions with Magnesium being the anode generated the most potential
energy from the voltaic cells.

Experimental Limitations and Improvements

In the experiment, the slight errors of the measurements come from the limitations of the
apparatus used. These include...
- The voltage measurements from the voltometer (+ 1.10)
- Amount of metal solution used (+ 5 mL)
Therefore, we should not forget the limitations and possible errors that have come in the raw
results. These include...
- The possibility of contaminations of apparatus (beakers, graduated cylinders, etc)

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- Possible error in the calibration of the voltmeter. Even though proper calibration was done, we
do not know the accuracy and reliability of the voltmeter at the time of experimentation
Conclusion
In conclusion, several different half-cells were prepared and connected together, and a table of
relative potentials energy between metals was constructed. In this experiment, it was observed in
that the more negative the potential was, the more it favored the reverse reaction (in the cathode).
The more positive the voltaic potential energy was, the more the electrode favored the forward
reaction (in the anode). The only error reported was the slight differing measurements of the
metals between the trials conducted for each metallic reaction. Between all Trials 1-10, the
greatest voltage potential was the reaction between Magnesium and Copper (2.71 V).

MLA Bibliography
"Electrochemistry 2: Galvanic Cells and Electrodes." - Chemwiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.
"Electrochemical Cells." Electrochemical Cells. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.
"Battery." :: Simple Voltaic Cell -- Kids Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.