Harvey Bosire

Research question
How does the voltage of a simple cell change if two metals from the same group in the
reactivity series are used?

Previously, a simple cell was made out of zinc, copper and their sulfate solutions. Through
oxidation and reduction zinc was able to let electrons pass through the circuit which would
then create electrical energy. This created a cell. A cell is a device that produces electricity.
This cell produces electrical energy with redox reactions. Zinc has two valance electrons and
gets rid of this through oxidation, zinc, in this case, was the anode. An ion of copper with a
charge of +2 would then get the electrons after the electrons passed the voltmeter. One part
of this circuit was the voltmeter and this measured how much electrical energy this redox
reaction produced. This redox reaction did use two specific metals which raises the question
of whether different metals on the reactivity series would produce more or less electrical
energy. The reactivity series is a table showing a number of metals and listing them in order
of difficulty to extract with easiest to extract on the bottom and stating the method used to
extract the metal. Zinc and copper are in different groups on the reactivity series. A Tin ion
and iron ion will be used to create simple cells due to them being in the same group in the
reactivity series. This investigation will research if two elements in the same group on the
reactivity series are able to react and if this has an impact on the voltage.

Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that metals from the same group are able to create voltage but the voltage
would be higher if the two metals would be from different groups in the reactivity series. The
bigger the difference between the two metals on the reactivity series the greater the voltage
obtained from the simple cell. This is due to elements higher in the reactivity series difficulty
to extract. If an element is difficult to extract this
suggests that they do not require to lose or gain as many
valance electrons as elements that are easier to extract.
This is due to the difficulty to extract an element suggest
the stability of that element as an atom and as an ion.
The bigger the difference the harder it is to extract said
element. With iron and tin the difference between their
stability as atom and ion is almost equal. The prediction
is that if Iron is used as an anode and tin is as a cathode
the voltmeter would read -0.3 volts or 0.3 volts. This
would be because iron has a voltage of -0.45 and tin a
voltage of -0.15.1 If (-0.45) - (-0.15) this would make -0.3 volts. Or (-0.15) - (-0.45) and this
would make 0.3 volts. The ion used for tin would be a +2 ion.

1
​“Doc Brown.” ​Simple Voltaic Cells ,​ 2018,
www.docbrown.info/page01/ExIndChem/electrochemistry10.htm.

1
The variables
Independent variable
Tin and Iron used as metals rather than zinc and copper. This was changed to investigate
the effects of using metals from the same reactivity series group. This was changed by using
a strip of iron and a strip of a tin ion. The size of the metal strips can be measured using a 30
centimetre ruler. This will be beneficial to add as different sized anodes and cathodes

Dependent variable
Voltage of the simple cell. The voltage of the simple cell changed because different metals
were used. These metals are from the same group in the reactivity series and the predicted
effect of this will be that the voltage will be less than that of elements in different groups in
the reactivity series. The change in voltage was measured using a voltmeter which
measures in volts. Measuring this change was essential to prove the hypothesis correct or
not.

Controlled variable
Iron sulfate and tin (II) sulfate solution was used to put in the metal strips respectively. The
sulfate solutions can be measured using a 100ml measuring beaker. This was to ensure the
amount of sulfate solution did not play a role in the voltage and the experiment to ensure
other variables did not play a role.

The temperature of both sulfate solutions should be contorlled. This can be done using a
thermometer and measuring the temperature in degrees celcius. This was controlled in case
temperature played a role in voltage. If the temperatures did not match the beakers were
placed on a hot plat so that the sulfate solution temperatures would match.

Extraneous variable
How much the metal strip is submerged in its sulfate solution. The amount the metal strips
submerge in water varied and this might play a role in the voltage as there is a reason the
metal strips are only submerged a certain amount. This could have been measured in
centimeters as in how many centimeters of the metal strip is submerged in its sulfate
solution. This could be measured using a 30 centimetre ruler.

2
Method
Apparatus list
1. One Red positive wire. The purpose of this was to measure the charge of the metals
and create the circuit fro metal strip to volt meter to other wire and then other metal
strip.
2. One Black negative wire. The purpose of this was to measure the charge of the
metals and create the circuit fro metal strip to volt meter to other wire and then other
metal strip.
3. One Voltmeter. This piece of equipment was used to measure the voltage from the
metal strips.
4. 3 100 ml beakers. The purpose of the first beaker was to fill potassium sulfate
solution so that the ion bridge (tissue paper) could be dipped into the solution. The
purpose of the second beaker was to fill with iron sulfate solution so the iron strip can
be partly submerged in this solution. The purpose of the final beaker was to fill tin (II)
solution in it so that the tin strip can be partly submerged in this solution.
5. One sheet of Tissue paper. The purpose of this was to be submerged in potassium
sulfate to act as an ion bridge.
6. One Heat plate. This purpose of this was to heat solutions that were not the same
temperature as the others.
7. 90 ml of potassium sulfate solution. This was used to submerge the tissue paper in to
act as an ion bridge.
8. 50ml of tin (II) sulfate solution. This was used to partly submerge the tin strip in.
9. 50 ml of iron sulfate solution. This was used to partly submerge the iron strip in.
10. Scissors. To cut the iron or tin strips to make it the same all metal strips the same
dimensions.
11. 15 cm long piece of iron. The independent variable.
12. 15 cm long piece of tin. The indepedent variable.
13. One 100 ml measuring beaker. To measure all solutions that were used in the
experiment. Was washed when measuring another sulfate solution.

3
Procedure
1. Gather equipment
2. Fill the measuring beaker with 50ml of tin (II) sulfate solution
3. Pour this into its respective beaker
4. Rinse measuring beaker
5. Fill the measuring beaker with 50 ml of iron sulfate solution
6. Pour this into its respective beaker
7. Rinse measuring beaker
8. Fill the measuring beaker with 90 ml of potassium sulfate solution.
9. Soak the tissue paper with potassium sulfate solution
10. Place tissue paper in tin and iron beaker
11. Measure iron strip so that the dimensions are 15 cm in length and 5 cm in width. Use
scissors if necessary
12. Place in respective beaker
13. Measure tin strip so that the dimensions are 15 cm in length and 5 cm in width. Use
scissors if necessary
14. Place in respective beaker
15. Connect black negative wire to volt meter
16. Connect red positive wire to volt meter
17. Place ends of wires on iron and tin strips
18. Turn on volt meter and record highest or lowest voltage
19. Repeat twice and use average voltage obtained
20. Clean up equipment used and pour sulfate solutions in the sink.

4
Risk assesment

Substance Hazard Safety measures

Hot plate Burns skin Always turn off after use.

Use a heat proof beaker.
Keep safe distance. Max
temperature 70 degrees
celcius to avoid serious any
serious burns

Sn(s) n/a n/a

SnSO4(aq) Causes skin irritation Wear protective

gloves/protective
clothing/eye protection/face
protection

Fe(s) n/a n/a

FeSO4(aq) Causes skin irritation Take care not to rub the eye
with fingers contaminated
with iron filings or powder.
Wear eye protection.

Voltmeter Electric shock and explosion Plugs that are cracked or

broken must not be used.
The plugs must be wired
properly, the conductors
securely fixed and the cable
firmly held by the strain relief
grip. The cable must be in
good condition and free from
breaks in the insulation.

scissors Cutting skin Cut cautiously and be aware

of your surroundings.

5
Sources
“Doc Brown.” ​Simple Voltaic Cells ​, 2018,
www.docbrown.info/page01/ExIndChem/electrochemistry10.htm.

cleaps. ​Student Safety Sheets,​ 2018,

science.cleapss.org.uk/Resource/SSS038-Iron-and-its-compounds.pdf.

Libretexts. “P3: Activity Series of Metals.” ​Chemistry LibreTexts,​ Libretexts, 9 Aug. 2016,
chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Reference/Reference_Tables/Electrochemistry_Tabl
es/P3%3A_Activity_Series_of_Metals.