Electrochemical cell
What is electro
chemical cell ?
An electrochemical cell is a device that can generate
electrical energy from the chemical reactions
occurring in it, or use the electrical energy supplied to
it to facilitate chemical reactions in it. These devices
are capable of converting chemical energy into
electrical energy, or vice versa. A common example of
an electrochemical cell is a standard 1.5-volt cell
which is used to power many electrical appliances
such as TV remotes and clocks.
Such cells capable of generating an electric current
from the chemical reactions occurring in them care
called Galvanoic cell or Voltaic cells. Alternatively,
the cells which cause chemical reactions to occur in
them when an electric current is passed through them
are called electrolytic cells.
Electrochemical cells generally consist of a cathode
and an anode. The key features of the cathode and
the anode are tabulated below.
Cathode Anode
Denoted by a positive sign since electrons are
consumed here Denoted by a negative sign since
electrons are liberated here
A reduction reaction occurs in the cathode of an
electrochemical cell An oxidation reaction occurs
here
Electrons move into the cathode Electrons move out
of the anode
General convention dictates that the cathode must be
represented on the right-hand side whereas the
anode is represented on the left-hand side while
denoting an electrochemical cell.
Half cell and cells
potential
Electrochemical Cells are made up of two half-cells,
each consisting of an electrode which is dipped in an
electrolyte. The same electrolyte can be used for both
half cells.
These half cells are connected by a salt bridge which
provides the platform for ionic contact between them
without allowing them to mix with each other. An
example of a salt bridge is a filter paper which is
dipped in a potassium nitrate or sodium chloride
solution.
One of the half cells of the electrochemical cell loses
electrons due to oxidation and the other gains electrons
in a reduction process. It can be noted that an
equilibrium reaction occurs in both the half cells, and
once the equilibrium is reached, the net voltage
becomes 0 and the cell stops producing electricity.
The tendency of an electrode which is in contact with
an electrolyte to lose or gain electrons is described by
its electrode potential. The values of these potentials
can be used to predict the overall cell potential.
Generally, the electrode potentials are measured with
the help of the standard hydrogen electrode as a
reference electrode (an electrode of known potential).
Primary and
secondary cell
Primary cells are basically use-and-throw galvanic
cells. The electrochemical reactions that take place in
these cells are irreversible in nature. Hence, the
reactants are consumed for the generation of
electrical energy and the cell stops producing an
electric current once the reactants are completely
depleted.
Secondary cells (also known as rechargeable
batteries) are electrochemical cells in which the cell
has a reversible reaction, i.e. the cell can function as
a Galvanic cell as well as an Electrolytic cell.
Most of the primary batteries (multiple cells
connected in series, parallel, or a combination of the
two) are considered wasteful and environmentally
harmful devices. This is because they require about
50 times the energy they contain in their
manufacturing process. They also contain many
toxic metals and are considered to be hazardous
waste.
Types of
electrochemical cells
The two primary types of electrochemical cells are
1. Galvanic cells
2. Electrolytic cells
GALVANOIC CELL
[Link] energy is transformed into electrical
energy in these electrochemical cells.
[Link] redox reactions that take place in these cells
are spontaneous in nature.
[Link] these electrochemical cells, the anode is
negatively charged and the cathode is positively
charged.
[Link] electrons originate from the species that
undergoes oxidation
ELECTROLYTIC CELL
1. Electrical energy is transformed into
chemical energy in these cells.
2. An input of energy is required for the
redox reactions to proceed in these cells,
i.e. the reactions are non-spontaneous.
3. These cells feature a positively charged anode
and a negatively charged cathode.
4. Electrons originate from an external
source (such as a battery).
Application of
electrochemical cele
[Link] cells are used in the electrorefining of
many non-ferrous metals. They are also used in the
electrowinning of these metals.
[Link] production of high-purity lead, zinc,
aluminium, and copper involves the use of
electrolytic cells.
[Link] sodium can be extracted from molten
sodium chloride by placing it in an electrolytic cell
and passing an electric current through it.
[Link] commercially important batteries (such as
the lead-acid battery) are made up of Galvanic
cells.
[Link] cells are an important class of electrochemical
cells that serve as a source of clean energy in several
remote locations.
Batteries
We have all used a cell or battery in our life. Be it in
our TV remotes, video games, AC remotes, car
batteries or your mobile phone batteries. So,
naturally, the use and presence of a battery in our
lives are simply undeniable. But have you ever
wondered about the technical meaning and
application of the batteries? Fret not, here we’ll help
you understand all the technicalities associated with
batteries.
What is battery?
You can get a galvanic cell by combining two
different electrodes together. However, you cannot
use all the galvanic cells as practical cells or
batteries. Usually, we use the term battery for a
combination of a few cells that are similar in nature.
A practical battery must have the following
characteristics:
[Link] must be light in weight and compact in
size.
[Link] cell or a battery must be able to give
a constant voltage. Moreover, the voltage
of the battery or the cell must not vary
during the use.
Types of battery
The batteries or the practical cells of the commercial
values are mainly of two types. These are
[Link] cell/battery
[Link] cell/battery.
Primary cell
The primary cells produce the electricity by
the virtue of a chemical reaction. Here the
reaction occurs only in one direction. We
can not reverse this phenomenon. As a
result, these cells become dead over a
period of time. You cannot reuse or
recharge a primary cell. Some of the
examples of primary cells are Daniell cell,
Dry cell, and Mercury cell.
Daniel cell
The Daniell cell has a copper vessel which contains a
concentrated solution of copper sulphate. A porous
pot containing dilute sulphuric acid is placed in the
copper vessel containing copper sulphate solution. A
zinc rod is dipped into dilute sulphuric acid. Zinc
electrode acts as an anode, while the copper
container acts as a cathode. The reactions taking
place in the cell are:
At anode: Zn(s) →Zn2+(aq) + 2e–
At cathode: Cu2+(aq) + 2e– →Cu(s)
Net cell reaction: Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) →Cu(s) + Zn2+(aq)
The cell may be represented as,
Zn(s) | Zn2+(aq) || Cu2+(aq) | Cu(s)
(anode) (cathode)
Daniell cell gives an emf of 1.1 V.
Dry cell
A compact form of the LeClanche cell is the dry cell.
It comprises of an outer container made of inc, which
acts as an anode. The zinc content of the cell is lined
from inside with a porous insulating paper. The
cathode is a carbon rod having a brass cap.
There is a space between the cathode and the anode
which is filled with a mixture of MnO2 along with a
thick paste of ammonium chloride, (NH4Cl), zinc
chloride (ZnCl2), and charcoal. The lining of the
porous paper prevents a direct contact between zinc
container and the paste. It acts as a salt bridge. The
cell is sealed from the top with pitch or wax.
Reactions during discharge
At anode: Zn(s) →Zn2++ 2e–
The Zn2+ ions migrate towards carbon electrode
(cathode). The reaction at the cathode is,
At cathode: MnO2+ NH4++ e– → MnO (OH) +
NH3MnO2
It acts as a depolarizer. State of manganese is
reduced from + 4 to + 3 in cathodic reaction. The
ammonia molecules formed at the cathode react
with Zn2+ ions coming from the anode, to form a
complex ion Zn(NH3)42+. The complication of Zn2+
by NH3 molecules lowers the concentration of free
Zn2+ and results in an increase in the voltage of the
cell. A dry cell has a potential of about 1.5 V.
Are dry cells really dry?
In reality, the dry cells aren’t really dry. They have a
wet paste of NH4Cl and ZnCl2. In reality, a dry cell
will function only as long as the paste in the cell is
moist. Moreover, you cannot recharge a dry cell. So,
naturally, the dry cells do not have an indefinite life.
This is because the NH4Cl paste is acidic in nature
and it goes on corroding the zinc container even
when it isn’t in use.
Dry cell
Mercury cell is recently introduced in the market. It
offers a rather more stable voltage. The emf of the
Mercury Cell is 1.35 V. Usually, the mercury cell is
costlier. This is the reason, why they are used only in
sophisticated instruments such as camera, hearing
aids, and watches etc. Amalgamated zinc plate
coated with a steel top plate acts as anode in
Mercury cell.
A paste of Hg, HgO and carbon powder acts as the
cathode. It is placed in contact with the outer steel
case. The electrolyte is a paste of KOH saturated
with Zn(OH)2. An inert porous material carries this
paste. The two electrodes are separated by an
insulation seal of neoprene rubber. The reactions
during discharge are,
At anode: Zn(Hg) + 2OH– →Zn (OH)2 + 2e–
At cathode: HgO + H2O + 2e– →Hg + 2OH–
Overall reaction: Zn(Hg) + HgO(s) →Zn(OH)2+ Hg(l)
Secondary Cells
On the other hand, the secondary cells are the
repeated action cells. These cells can be recharged
after every use. Passing electricity through the cells
recharge them. As a result, you can use these cells
over and over again. Some of the examples of
secondary cells are the Lead-acid cell, (or lead
storage cell), nickel-cadmium cell etc.
