Question

The following reaction occurs in basic solution:

Ag+ + Cu Ag + Cu2+
When the equation is balanced, what is the sum
of the coefficients?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7
e) >7

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 Answer

c) 6

Review: Galvanic Cells

To balance the chemical equation with

respect to atoms and charge, the
coefficients should be 2, 1, 2, and 1,
which total 6 when summed.

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 Question
How many electrons are transferred in the
following reaction?
2Cr2O72– + 14H+ + 6Cl– 2Cr3+ + 3Cl2 + 7H2O

a) 2
b) 4
c) 6
d) 8

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 Answer

c) 6

Review :Galvanic Cells

The number of electrons transferred will be the

same for the oxidation as for the reduction. The
oxidation reaction involves 6 Cl– ions forming 3
Cl2 molecules and 6 electrons.

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 Question
The following two half-reactions take place in a galvanic
cell. At standard conditions, which species are
produced at each electrode?
Sn2+ + 2e– Sn E = –0.14 V
Cu2+ + 2e– Cu E = 0.34 V

Anode Cathode
a) Sn Cu2+
b) Sn Cu
c) Cu2+ Sn
d) Cu Sn2+
e) Sn2+ Cu

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 Answer

Anode Cathode
e) Sn2+ Cu

Review : Standard Reduction Potentials

A positive cell voltage results when the tin is

oxidized and the copper(II) ion is reduced.
Therefore, copper is produced at the cathode
and Sn2+ is produced at the anode.

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 Question
Given these half-reactions, which of the following is the
strongest oxidizing agent?

MnO4– + 4H+ + 3e– MnO2 + 2H2O E = 1.68 V

I2 + 2e– 2I– E = 0.54 V
Zn2+ + 2e– Zn E = –0.76 V

a) MnO4–
b) I2
c) Zn2+
d) Zn
e) MnO2

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 Answer

a) MnO4–

Review : Standard Reduction Potentials

To be the strongest oxidizing agent requires the

species to want to be reduced the most or to
have the largest positive standard reduction
potential. The largest positive number is 1.68 V,
so the species that can be reduced is MnO4–.

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 Question
Reaction E (volts)
Na+ + e– Na –2.71
Cl2 + 2e– 2Cl– +1.36
F2 + 2e– 2F– +2.87

Which of the following is the best reducing

agent?
a) Cl2
b) F2
c) Na
d) Na+
e) F-

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 Answer

c) Na

Review : Standard Reduction Potentials

To be the best reducing agent requires the

species to want to be oxidized the most or to
have the largest negative standard reduction
potential. The largest negative standard
reduction potential is –2.71 V, so Na is the
species that can be oxidized.

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 Question

Determine the standard reduction potential for

Zn2+ + 2e– Zn
given the following standard potentials:
Zn + 2Ag+ Zn2+ + 2Ag E = 1.56 V
Ag+ + e– Ag E = 0.80V

a) –0.76 V
b) 0.04 V
c) 0.76 V
d) –0.38 V

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 Answer

a) –0.76 V

Review : Standard Reduction Potentials

E°(cell) = E°(cathode) – E°(anode)

1.56 V = 0.80 V – (standard reduction potential for zinc)

Solving, we find that the standard reduction

potential for zinc is –0.76 V.

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 Question

For any galvanic cell to operate,

a) ∆G and E must both be positive.
b) ∆G and E must both be negative.
c) ∆G must be positive and E must be
negative.
d) ∆G must be negative and E must be
positive.

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 Answer

d) ∆G must be negative and E must be

positive.

Review: Cell Potential, Electrical Work, and

Free Energy

For a spontaneous process, ∆G is negative.

Since ∆G = –nFE , the value for E must be
positive.

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 Question

For any operating concentration cell,

a) E and E must both be positive.
b) E must be zero and E must be positive.
c) E must be zero and E must be positive.
d) E and E must both be negative.

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 Answer

b) E must be zero and E must be positive.

Review: Dependence of Cell Potential on

Concentration

In a concentration cell, the oxidizing agent and

the reducing agent are the same species, so E
is zero. Since the cell is operating (running
spontaneously), E is positive.

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 Question
Calculate the cell potential (Ecell) of an
electrochemical cell with Mg/Mg2+ and Fe/Fe2+
electrodes. [Mg2+] = 0.200 M and [Fe2+] = 0.050 M.
A. 1.90
B. 1.92 Fe2+ (aq) + 2 e– → Fe (s) –0.45
C. 1.94 Mg2+ (aq) + 2 e– → Mg (s) –2.37
D. 2.82
E. 2.80

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 Answer

Fe2+ (aq) + 2 e– → Fe (s) –0.45

Mg2+ (aq) + 2 e– → Mg (s) –2.37

A. 1.90
B. 1.92
C. 1.94
D. 2.82
E. 2.80

Review: Electrochemical cells, non standard

conditons
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 Question
Consider a cell that employs the following overall reaction:
2 Al (s) + 3 I2 (s) → 2 Al3+ (aq) + 6 I– (aq)
What is ΔGº for the cell?
I2 (s) + 2 e– → 2 I– (aq) 0.54
A. 636 kJ / mol
B. –648 kJ/ mol Al3+ (aq) + 3 e– → Al (s) –1.66

C. –216 kJ/ mol

D. –636 kJ/ mol
E. –1270 kJ/ mol

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 Answer

I2 (s) + 2 e– → 2 I– (aq) 0.54

Al3+ (aq) + 3 e– → Al (s) –1.66

A. 636 kJ / mol
B. –648 kJ/ mol
C. –216 kJ/ mol
D. –636 kJ/ mol
E. –1270 kJ/ mol

Review: Work, free energy, Ecell relationships

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