Galvanic/Electrolytic Cells

Based on the experiment where a strip of zinc metal is placed into a solution of 1.0 M copper(II) sulfate, and a strip of copper metal is placed into a solution of 1.0 M zinc sulfate, which of the following reactions is thermodynamically favored?

• Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s) is favored

• Cu(s) + ZnSO4(aq) → CuSO4(aq) + Zn(s) is favored

• Both reactions are equally favored

• Neither reaction is favored

Write the net ionic equation for the reaction that you classified as thermodynamically favored in part (a).

In the equation that you wrote in part (b), identify the species that is oxidized and the species that is reduced.

• Species A is oxidized and Species B is reduced

• Species B is oxidized and Species A is reduced

• Both Species A and B are oxidized

• Both Species A and B are reduced

Identify a specific item that is included in each setup that supports the fact that the reaction that occurs in the electrolytic cell is NOT thermodynamically favored.

Complete each sentence based on the redox equation shown above. At the ( anode cathode ), ________ is oxidized from ________ to ________.

Complete each sentence based on the redox equation shown above. At the ( anode cathode ), ________ is reduced from ________ to ________.

Complete each sentence based on the redox equation shown above. At the ( anode cathode ), ________ is oxidized from ________ to ________.

Complete each sentence based on the redox equation shown above. At the ( anode cathode ), ________ is reduced from ________ to ________.

A student sets up a galvanic cell with a Cr(s) electrode immersed in a 1.0 M solution of Cr^3+(aq) and a Ag(s) electrode immersed in a 1.0 M solution of Ag^+(aq), as shown in the diagram at right. The student measures the voltage in the cell shown at right and discovers that it is zero. Identify the missing component of the cell.

What is the main purpose of the missing component that you chose in part (a)?