Chemistry Report National 5 Assignment

Creating Electricity through electrochemical cells
Aim
The aim of this experiment is to demonstrate the use of electrochemical cells and show the
chemical reaction that occurs when chemical energy is changed to electrical energy. It will
also test how the different metals used form the electro chemical series.
Underlying chemistry
A simple electrochemical cell is made up of two metals in an electrolyte solution and

external wires. When two different metals are connected in the cell the electrons flow
through the wires between them and ions flow through the electrolyte completing the
circuit. The way the electrons flow depends on the type of metals used. The more reactive
metals used, will lose electrons easier than less reactive metals, this means the electrons
flow from the more reactive metal to the less reactive metal. When these metals are listed in
order from most reactive to least reactive, they are referred to as the electrochemical series.
The metals in the electrochemical series can be tested by measuring the size of the voltage
produced between the two metals in the cell. The bigger the gap between the metals in the
electrochemical series the higher the voltage produced.
An electrochemical cell is an example of how a chemical reaction is used to change chemical

energy into electrical energy. The type of chemical reaction occuring is a redox reaction. A
redox reaction is when oxidation and reduction take place at the same time. Oxidation is
when a metal loses its electrons due to a reactant to form an ion. For example, Zinc is
oxidised through the following ion-electron equation:
Zn(s) ---> Zn2+(aq)+2e-
Reduction is when a compound gains electrons by reacting to form a metal. For example,
iron is reduced through the following ion electron equation:
Fe2+(aq)+2e- -----> Fe(s)
Description of experiment
The voltage was taken for cells made with Zinc as one electrode and 4 different metals as the
other electrode, dipped in an electrolyte solution. Voltage measurement was repeated 5
times for each different metal.
Experimental Data
Zinc + Zinc + Iron Zinc + Zinc +

Magnesium (v) Aluminium Copper (V)
(v) (V)
Ex 1 0.96 0.0 0.19 0.49
Ex 2 0.96 0.1 0.17 0.54
Ex 3 0.98 0.1 0.16 0.49
Ex 4 0.97 0.2 0.18 0.50
Ex 5 0.96 0.2 0.19 0.51
Average 0.966 0.12 0.178 0.506
Graphical Presentation
Information from internet resources
The online BBC bitesize article on electrochemical cells which states that two metals
connected together in a cell with an electrolyte create electricity and the further apart in the
electrochemical series the metals are, the higher the voltage.
(https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zx2bh39/revision/7 )
The online article from docbrown.info shows the order of the metals in the electrochemical
series from most reactive to least reactive.
https://www.docbrown.info/page01/ExIndChem/electrochemistry10.htm
Analysis
The results from the experiment are mostly in line with the information from the online
sources as magnesium and zinc produced a higher voltage than iron and aluminium, which
are closer to zinc in the electrochemical series. However, based on this information and the
electrochemical series noted in pg 10 of the SQA data booklet it would be expected that zinc
and copper would produce the highest voltage as they are further apart in the
electrochemical series.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the experiment successfully illustrated that electricity can be produced from
chemical energy, however it did not prove the order of metals in the electrochemical series.
This is most likely due to an error in the experiment.
Evaluation
It is likely that a human error occurred with the connection when the copper electrode was
measured as the voltmeter was being held at the same time as trying to keep the metals
separate in the beaker and taking a reading. This could be avoided by having a holder which
keeps the two electrodes apart and checking the crocodile clips are securely fastened to
each metal.
Sources
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zx2bh39/revision/7
https://www.docbrown.info/page01/ExIndChem/electrochemistry10.htm
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Creating Electricity through electrochemical cells

A simple electrochemical cell is made up of two metals in an electrolyte solution and

An electrochemical cell is an example of how a chemical reaction is used to change chemical

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

Fe2+(aq)+2e- -----> Fe(s)

Zinc + Zinc + Iron Zinc + Zinc +

Information from internet resources

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