Electrochemical Cells
Overview
How can voltage of a battery (cell potential) be determined? How does concentration of products and reactants affect cell potential? How can we determine what reaction will occur when an external power source is applied to a solution?
Objectives
- How can voltage of a battery (cell potential) be determined? How does concentration of products and reactants affect cell potential? How can we determine what reaction will occur when an external power source is applied to a solution?
- Connect observations to AP Chemistry models and calculations.
Materials Needed
Procedure
Part A Using sand paper, clean the strips of copper and zinc.
Add about 50 mL of 0.10 M CuSO4 solution to a 250-mL beaker.
Place a clean copper strip in the beaker.
Add about 50 mL of 0.10 M ZnSO4 solution to a second 250-mL beaker.
Place a clean zinc strip in that beaker.
Attach the alligator clip with the black wire to the piece of zinc and attach the alligator clip with the red wire to the piece of copper.
Then attach both male ends of the wire into the voltmeter.
Turn the voltmeter to read 20 DC volts and then turn on the voltmeter.
Record the voltage you read from the voltmeter.
Fill “to the top” a U-tube with 0.10 M KNO3 and stopper the ends with cotton.
Invert the tube and place the ends of the U-tube into the beakers.
Now read the voltmeter again and record the voltage.