Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Arcega, Rachelle Ann1; Banta, Mary Claire L.2; Bongo, Sayre J.3; Balintag, Elaine4; Cabais, Anjelica Jean P.5
School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Mapúa Institute of Technology, Manila 1002, Philippines
Date Performed: May 08, 2015/ Date Submitted: May 15, 2015
Submitted to: Engr. Ariziel Ruth Marquez
ABSTRACT
An electrochemical cell is an experimental apparatus used either to generate electrical energy through the use of spontaneous
redox reactions or is one that uses electrical energy to drive non-spontaneous reactions. It is composed of an anode at which
oxidation occurs and a cathode at which reduction occurs. In this experiment however, only the second type, called an
electrolytic cell, was used in order to achieve the objectives of the experiment. The objectives of the experiment were 1) to
determine the effect of current on electrolytic reactions at a given time, 2) to determine, experimentally, Faraday’s constant,
and 3) to familiarize the students with the electrolytic analyzer. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that current
affected electrolytic reactions in a proportional and direct manner. Moreover, the Faraday constant was experimentally
determined with the use of the electrolytic analyzer equipment though the calculated value had approximately 4% error. Lastly,
we were able to familiarize ourselves with the main equipment in use which was the electrolytic analyzer, its parts, and how
to operate it.
Keywords: electrochemical cell, redox reactions, electrolytic cell, Faraday constant, electrolytic analyzer, current
INTRODUCTION
A copper sulfate solution is composed of a cation (Cu2+) neutral state. This process is also known as electrolysis.
and an anion (SO42-). Once CuSO4 is dissolved in After the separation process takes place, there will be
water, it separates into its corresponding ions since it is deposits of neutrally charged copper atoms on the
an electrolyte (a substance whose atoms are closely cathode together with the SO4 reacting with the copper
bonded together but whose molecules split up into anode and resulting into CuSO4 and will separate into
positive and negative ions once in solution). Cu2+ and SO42- dissolved in water.
With the electrolytic analyzer (which is actually an During the whole electrolysis process, copper is
electrochemical cell), two platinum electrodes are used. deposited on cathode and same amount of copper is
These are immersed into the solution and a current is removed from the anode. Basically, the principle of
made to flow through them. This causes the cation electrolysis states that the cations in the cathode
(Cu2+ in this case) to be attracted towards the cathode receive electrons from negative cathode while anions
(the electrode connected to the negative terminal of the provide these electrons to the cathode. Figure 1 on the
source). The cation will now receive electrons from the next page shows this basic principle of electrolysis.
electrode and its atoms will eventually become neutrally
charged. On the other hand, the anion will be attracted
towards the anode (the electrode connected to the
positive terminal of the source). From there, the anions,
SO42-, will give up two of their electrons and become
SO4 radical. It will then attack the copper anode and will
yield copper sulfate. This is because of the fact that it is
impossible for the SO4 radical to exist in the electrical
METHODOLOGY
𝟏𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑪𝒖 𝟐𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝒆
𝒏𝒆 = 𝒎𝑪𝒖 ( )( ) (Eqn. 2)
𝑴𝑾𝑪𝒖 𝟏𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑪𝒖
𝑸 𝑰𝒕
𝑭= = (Eqn. 3)
𝒏𝒆 𝒏𝒆