Galvanic Cell

Process & Construction

Electrochemical Cell (Galvanic Cell) Process

Introduction:
An extremely important class of oxidation and reduction reactions is used to provide useful electrical
energy in batteries. A simple electrochemical cell can be made from copper and zinc metals with
solutions of their sulfates. In the process of the reaction, electrons can be transferred from the zinc to
the copper through an electrically conducting path as a useful electric current.

An electrochemical cell can be created by placing metallic electrodes into an electrolyte where a
chemical reaction either uses or generates an electric current. Electrochemical cells which generate an
electric current are called voltaic cells or galvanic cells, and common batteries consist of one or more
such cells. In other electrochemical cells an externally supplied electric current is used to drive a
chemical reaction which would not occur spontaneously. Such cells are called electrolytic cells.

An electrochemical cell which causes external electric current flow can be created using any two
different metals since metals differ in their tendency to lose electrons. Zinc more readily loses electrons
than copper, so placing zinc and copper metal in solutions of their salts can cause electrons to flow
through an external wire which leads from the zinc to the copper.

Galvanic Cell Issue Date April 27, 2011

Author - Nauman Arshad 110426 Print Date - December 8, 2021
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 Galvanic Cell
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Chemistry:

Fig. Flow of electrons

As a zinc atom provides the electrons, it becomes a positive ion and goes into aqueous solution,
decreasing the mass of the zinc electrode. On the copper side, the two electrons received allow it to
convert a copper ion from solution into an uncharged copper atom which deposits on the copper
electrode, increasing its mass. The two reactions are typically written

Zn(s) -> Zn2+(aq) + 2e-

Cu2+(aq) + 2e- -> Cu(s)
Half Reactions: The letters in parentheses are just reminders that the zinc goes from a solid (s) into a
water solution (aq) and vice versa for the copper. It is typical in the language of electrochemistry to refer
to these two processes as "half-reactions" which occur at the two electrodes.

Zn(s) -> Zn2+ The zinc "half-reaction" is classified as oxidation since it loses electrons. The
terminal at which oxidation occurs is called the "anode". For a battery, this is
(aq) + 2e- the negative terminal.
The copper "half-reaction" is classified as reduction since it gains electrons.
Cu2+(aq) + 2e-
The terminal at which reduction occurs is called the "cathode". For a battery,
this is the positive terminal. -> Cu(s)

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In order for the voltaic cell to continue to produce an external electric current, there must be a
movement of the sulfate ions in solution from the right to the left to balance the electron flow in the
external circuit. The metal ions themselves must be prevented from moving between the electrodes, so
some kind of porous membrane or other mechanism must provide for the selective movement of the
negative ions in the electrolyte from the right to the left.

emf: Energy is required to force the electrons to move from the zinc to the copper electrode, and
the amount of energy per unit charge available from the voltaic cell is called the electromotive
force (emf) of the cell. Energy per unit charge is expressed in volts (1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb).

Fig: Galvanic Cell Science

The cell potential that is generated by a redox reactions is measured or used in a Galvanic (=
electrochemical) cell. A Galvanic cell contains two compartments:

 In the oxidation part ("oxidation half cell"), a substance loses one or more electrons: " Loss of
Electrons is Oxidation"

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 In the reduction part ("reduction half cell"), a substance gains one or more electrons:
"Reduction Is Gain"

The substance needing electrons in the reduction half cell pulls electrons through a wire from the
substance in the oxidation half cell:

 The cell in which oxidation occurs is called the anode: oxidation at anode
 The cell in which reduction occurs is called the cathode: reduction at cathode

Redox reactions involve oxidation and reduction processes. Most involve ions and occur in solutions and
are described by ionic equations. Like other chemical equations, they need to be mass and atom
balanced because mass and atoms are not made or destroyed in reactions. When dealing with ionic
equations, extra care must also be taken to ensure that the equations are charge balanced as charge can
also not be made or destroyed.

Example 1:
If zinc metal is dipped into copper(II) sulfate solution, a coating of copper metal forms on the surface of
the zinc. The zinc metal loses 2 electrons and becomes Zn 2+(aq) and the copper(II) ions gain 2 electrons
and become Cu(s). These are written as two half equations which are atom and mass balanced as
normal:

o Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e- (oxidation process)

o Cu2+(aq) + 2e- → Cu(s) (reduction process)

The sulfate ions do nothing but spectate whilst this occurs so are missed off entirely.

The two electrons that are lost from the zinc are gained by the Cu 2+(aq). Overall there is no loss or gain
of electrons. The two half equations can be added to give the overall reaction:

Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e-

Cu2+(aq) + 2e- → Cu(s)

Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) + 2e- → Zn2+ + 2e- + Cu(s)

The 2e- appear on both sides of the equation so can be crossed out, giving the overall reaction;
Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+ + Cu(s)

The picture opposite shows a Galvanic cell made from zinc and tin half cells. The zinc half cell has a strip of zinc
metal in a beaker containing Zn 2+(aq) ions. The tin half cell has a strip of tin metal in a beaker containing Sn 2+
ions. The two half cells are connected together with a wire and a salt bridge.

The cell potential and the overall redox reaction can be worked out using the standard cell potentials. These
are E° = -0.76 V for Zn2+ / Zn(s) and -0.14 V for Sn 2+ / Sn(s). As the value for the Sn 2+ / Sn(s) half cell is less
negative, the reduction, oxidation and overall reactions are: =
Galvanic Cell Issue Date April 27, 2011
Author - Nauman Arshad 110426 Print Date - December 8, 2021
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 Galvanic Cell
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Sn2+(aq) + 2e - → Sn(s)
2+
Zn(s) → Zn (aq) + 2e -

Cu2+(aq) + Zn(s) → Cu(s) + Zn 2+(aq)

The standard cell potential is the reading on the volt meter when the cells are first connected:

E°cell = E°reduction half cell - E°oxidation half cell = (-0.14 V) - (-0.76 V) = +0.62 V

Processes occurring at the electrode:

Oxidation involves loss of electrons and always occurs at the anode. Zinc is therefore the anode as
oxidation is occurring in the Zn 2+(aq) / Zn(s) half cell. Zn atoms on the electrode lose two electrons and
enter the solution as Zn2+(aq). The electrons are left behind on the electrode, which becomes negatively
charged.

Reduction involves gain of electrons and always occurs at the cathode. Tin is therefore the cathode as
reduction is occurring in the Sn 2+(aq) / Sn(s) half cell. Sn2+(aq) ions in the solution pick up two electrons
from the electrode and become Sn(s). Electrons are taken from the electrode, which becomes positively
charged.

Flow of electrons in the wire:

In a Galvanic cell, the oxidation process leads to electrons being left on the anode which becomes
negatively charged and the reduction process leads to electrons being taken from the cathode which
becomes positively charged.

Electrons travel from the negatively charged electrode to the positively charged electrode through the
wire. In a Galvanic cell, electrons therefore always flow from the anode to the cathode.

In the example here, electrons therefore flow from the zinc elecrode to the tin electrode

Flow of ions in the salt bridge:

The salt bridge contains a solution of a salt, commonly NaNO 3, KNO3, NaCl or KCl, which plays no part in
the reaction. The ions do, however, move in and out of the salt bridge into the half cells when the cell is
connected. They do this to ensure that the whole cell remains neutral overall and complete the circuit.

In the anode half cell, Zn2+(aq) ions are entering the solution as oxidation occurs. This would lead to a
build up of positively charged cations in the solution without the salt bridge. Anions in the salt bridge
such as NO3-(aq) or Cl-(aq), flow from the salt bridge into the anode beaker to compensate for this.

In the cathode half cell, Sn 2+(aq) ions are leaving the solution as reduction occurs. This would lead to a
lose of positively charged cations in the solution without the salt bridge. Cations in the salt bridge such
as Na+(aq) or K+(aq), flow from the salt bridge into the cathode beaker to compensate for this
Galvanic Cell Issue Date April 27, 2011
Author - Nauman Arshad 110426 Print Date - December 8, 2021
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 Galvanic Cell
Process & Construction

Galvanic Cell Issue Date April 27, 2011

Author - Nauman Arshad 110426 Print Date - December 8, 2021
Review - W. E. Smith 110426 Page 6 of 6