General Chemistry ll

Electrochemistry Leora
➔ Lose Electron (s) – undergoes Oxidation -
- is the study of the chemical reactions that
Reducing Agent
involve the interconversion between chemical
energy and electrical energy. Geroa
- Certain chemical reactions can create electricity ➔ Gain Electron (s) - undergoes Reduction -
- Electricity can make certain chemical reactions Oxidizing Agent
happen that wouldn’t happen otherwise

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
Involves the transfer of one or more electrons between
reactants. It generally occurs as a pair of reduction and
oxidation half-reactions.

Oxidation
- Occurs when an atom loses an electron, resulting
in the increase of its oxidation state.
➔ (OIL – Oxidation is loss)
Assigning Oxidation Numbers
Reduction
- Happens when an atom gains an electron, ➔ Element by itself: 0
resulting in the decrease of its oxidation state. ➔ Group 1A: always +1
➔ RIG – Reduction is gain) ➔ Group 2A: always +2
➔ Halogens (Group 7): usually -1 (positive with
Reducing Agent oxygen)
- The reactant the other substance and is therefore ➔ Monatomic ion: ion charge H: +1 with
oxidized in the reaction. nonmetals, H: -1 with metals
- A reducing agent is a substance that causes ➔ O: usually -2, -1 in peroxide
reduction by losing electrons; therefore, it gets ➔ F: always -1
oxidized. ➔ Sum of ON’s for a neutral compound=0
Sample Problem: Assigning Oxidation Number
Oxidizing Agent
- The reactant that undergoes reduction as it
oxidizes the other substance.
- An oxidizing agent is a substance that causes
oxidation by accepting electrons; therefore, it
gets reduced.

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Balancing Redox Reactions (Oxidation Number
Method)

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Galvanic Cell
A spontaneous redox reaction generates electrical
energy.
➔ Anode - is where oxidation takes place.
➔ Cathode - is where reduction occurs.

Standard Potentials
➔ Reduction Potential - species will be reduced.
➔ Oxidation Potential - the tendency for a species
• A redox reaction is spontaneous if the standard
to be oxidized at standard conditions.
electrode potential for the redox reaction, Eo (redox
➔ Cell Potential - is the measure of the potential
reaction), is positive.
difference between two half cells in an
electrochemical cell. • spontaneous redox reaction - a type of reaction in
which there is usually the release of energy where the
Standard Cell Potential
electrons are transferred from anode to cathode. This
Can be obtained from the standard potentials of the type of reaction is mostly seen in electrochemical cells.
cathode and the anode. The electrode potentials are ➔ generation of electricity.
tabulated as standard reduction potentials at 25oC.
• A redox reaction is nonspontaneous if the standard
➔ Eo cell = Eo cathode- Eo anode electrode potential for the redox reaction, Eo (redox
reaction), is negative.
Sample Problem
• nonspontaneous redox reaction - occurs when an
external voltage is applied. The reactions that occur in an
electric battery are electrochemical reactions.
➔ conductor for ions to be transferred (usually a
salt bridge) e.g. filter paper dipped in a salt
solution.

Redox Reactions in Everyday Life

1. Battery - this creates a flow of electrons between the
reducing agent (the one that is being oxidized or losing
electrons) and the oxidizing agent (the one that is being
reduced or gaining electrons).
2. Corrosion - a process through which metals in
manufactured states return to their natural oxidation
states.
3. Galvanization - is the process of applying zinc
coating to a more noble metal (popularly steel or iron) to
prevent corrosion (rusting).
4. Electrolysis - process by which electric current is
passed through a substance to effect a chemical change.

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Example: Electroplating is the process of plating one Secondary Battery
metal onto another by hydrolysis, most commonly for A. Lead-acid Batteries
decorative purposes or to prevent corrosion .
B. Ni-Cd batteries
5. Metabolism - these use oxygen to convert C. Lithium-ion Batteries
carbohydrates and fats into CO2 and H2O
Lead Storage Battery/ Lead Acid Battery
6. Bleach – oxidizes stains so that they are easier to
The lead acid battery in your automobile consists of six
remove by detergents
cells connected in series to give 12 V. Their low cost and
Redox Reactions in Everyday Life: Batteries high current output makes these excellent candidates for
providing power for automobile starter motors.
Batteries consist of chemicals that start to react
➔ Anode (Oxidation) – Lead (Pb) plates bearing
spontaneously once an electronic device is connected to
compressed spongy lead.
its anode and cathode.
➔ Cathode (Reduction) – group of lead plates
➔ Primary voltaic cell - non rechargeable battery
bearing lead dioxide, PbO2.
➔ Secondary voltaic cell - rechargeable battery
➔ Flow cell – fuel battery
Fuel Cells or Flow Battery
Primary Batteries Fuel cells are similar to batteries in that they generate an
A. Le Clanche Cell electrical current but require continuous addition of fuel
B. Button Batteries or Mercury Batteries and oxidizer.
➔ another type of electrochemical cell.
Leclanché dry cell (1866) ➔ hydrogen ions and electrons move to the cathode
- a “wet cell”: the electrolyte is an acidic that also contains a catalyst that reduces oxygen,
water-based paste containing MnO2, NH4, Cl, producing water.
ZnCl2, graphite, and starch ➔ electrons move from the anode to the cathode,
electricity is generated.
Gassner dry battery, 1889
- Carl Gassner (1886) – inventor of dry cell
Vanadium Electric REDOX Flow Battery
battery.
- rechargeable batteries that are charged and
➔ It was in 1887 when Gassner patented the first
discharged by means of the oxidation-reduction
dry cell that uses zinc as the container, which at
reaction of ions of vanadium or the like.
the same time acts as the negative electrode.
➔ a long service life with almost no degradation of
➔ Gassner’s invention was a huge commercial
electrodes and electrolytes
success and became the prototype for the dry
➔ high safety due to being free of combustible
cell industry.
materials
Mercury/Button Battery (1942) ➔ availability of operation under normal
- mercury compound acts as a cathode where temperatures.
reduction reaction occurs and the zinc - batteries are ideal for use in power grid systems.
compound acts as an anode, where oxidation - expected to serve as a technology to stabilize the
reaction takes place. power grids
- Sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide is ➔ solar and wind power
used as an electrolyte
➔ The redox reaction delivers 1.3 volts of
electrical energy.

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Redox Reactions in Everyday Life: Corrosion Bleaching Agents (Application of redox
reaction)
- metal is exposed to oxygen and water.
- formation of rust that deteriorates and weakens - are compounds which are used to remove color
the material or structure. from substances such as textiles.
➔ Most commercial bleaches are oxidizing agents,
Redox Reactions in Everyday Life: Galvanization such as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or
- Another rust prevention method - the surface of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which are quite
iron or steel is coated with zinc. effective in "decolorizing" substances via
➔ First, the zinc coating imparts a oxidation.
corrosion-resistant property.
➔ Second, zinc functions as a sacrificial anode.

Electrolysis
- electrical energy is supplied to cause a
nonspontaneous redox reaction to occur.
- the reaction produces a negative cell potential.

Electrolysis of Molten NaCl

- Applying an electric current to molten sodium
chloride will oxidize the chlorine ions and
reduce the sodium ions.

Electrolysis of NaCl solution

- Redox reaction will not occur in a solution of
NaCl unless current is applied to it.
- Electrolysis of NaCl solution will yield a
different result compared to that of molten.

Electrolysis of H2O
- Water in its pure form will not undergo
hydrolysis even when current is applied to it.
- no electrolytes that will allow it to conduct
electricity.

Electroplating - rust prevention & treatment

- involves applying a certain amount of current
over a period of time to a solution of a metal
iron.

Metabolism
- Metabolism is the chemical reactions in the
body's cells that change food into energy.

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