Practical 5 Lab Report
Title: Investigating Oxidizing and Reducing Strengths Using Redox Reactions and
Electrochemical Cells
Aim: To determine the relative oxidizing and reducing strengths of a series of metals and ions
by observing redox reactions and measuring cell potentials using electrochemical cells.
THEORY
Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between chemical species. In such reactions ,
oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons. The oxidizing agent
gains electrons (gets reduced), the reducing agent loses electrons (gets oxidized). These
reactions can be represented as half-reactions, and in electrochemical cells, each half-reaction
occurs in a separate compartment (half-cell). When connected with a salt bridge and an external
circuit, the flow of electrons between the reducing and oxidizing agents can be measured as a
cell potential (voltage), indicating the spontaneity and energy change of the reaction.
INTRODUCTION
Electrochemistry is the study of chemical reactions that involve the movement of electrons
between substances. These electron transfers are known as redox reactions. Understanding the
tendency of different substances to gain or lose electrons helps us predict which redox reactions
are spontaneous and allows us to design systems such as batteries and fuel cells. In this
practical, students investigate the reactivity of various metals and ions by performing two sets
of experiments. In Part A, the goal is to compare the reactivity of oxidizing and reducing agents
based on whether reactions visibly occur. In Part B, students use a voltmeter and an
electrochemical cell to measure cell potentials and rank redox couples based on their electron
transfer energy differences.
Apparatus and Materials
Part A: Relative Reactivities
Apparatus:
• Ceramic spot plate
• 3 × 30 mL beakers
• Deionized water squirt bottle
• Forceps
• Paper towels
Materials (Reagents):
• 6 drops 0.1 M Cu(NO₃)₂
• 6 drops 0.1 M Mg(NO₃)₂
• 6 drops 0.1 M KMnO₄ (acidic)
• 9 drops 3% H₂O₂ solution
• 9 drops 0.1 M KI
• 9 drops phenolphthalein indicator solution
• 2 pieces copper metal
• 2 pieces zinc metal
• 2 pieces magnesium metal
• 20 mL 3 M HCl
• 30 mL tap water
Part B: Half-Cell Potentials
Apparatus:
• MicroLab Multi-EChem Half Cell module
• MicroLab interface
• Voltmeter with alligator clip leads
Materials (Reagents):
• M Cu(NO₃)₂
• M AgNO₃
• M Pb(NO₃)₂
• M Zn(NO₃)₂
• M KNO₃ (salt bridge solution)
• 1.5" copper wire × 2
• 1.5" silver wire
• 1.5" lead wire
• 1.5" zinc wire
Data and Results
Table for A1
CU 2+ Mg2+
H2O2 R, yellow NR, colourless R, brown bubbles
KI R, yellow NR, colourless R, brown
Table for A2
Cu Mg Zn
H2O2 R, light pink R, light pink R, light pink
HCL NR R, bubbles, smoke R, bubbles
Question 1
• Mg²⁺ did not react with either H₂O₂ or KI - Weakest
• Cu²⁺ reacted with both -Stronger
• MnO₄⁻ caused strong reactions (bubbling, brown color) with both -Strongest
Question 2
• Mg²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Mg(s)
• Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu(s)
• MnO₄⁻ + 8H⁺ + 5e⁻ → Mn²⁺ + 4H₂O
Question 3
List the reducing agents in order, from strongest to weakest.
Mg: Reacted with both water (light pink) and HCl (bubbles, smoke) -Strongest
Zn: Reacted with both water (light pink) and HCl (bubbles) -Second strongest
Cu: Reacted with water (light pink), but no reaction with HCl -Weakest
QUESTION 4
• Cu(s) → Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻
• Zn(s) → Zn²⁺ + 2e⁻
• Mg(s) → Mg²⁺ + 2e-
Question 5
• Mg²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Mg ( Most negative because it is the weakest oxidising agent)
• Zn²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Zn
• Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu
• MnO₄⁻ + 8H⁺ + 5e⁻ → Mn²⁺ + 4H₂O (Most positive because it is the strongest
oxidising agent)
Question 6
A. Magnesium reacted with hydronium ions (H₃O⁺) supplied by HCl.
B. 2H₃O⁺ + 2e⁻ → H₂(g) + 2H₂O
C. Mg(s) + 2H₃O⁺(aq) → Mg²⁺(aq) + H₂(g) + 2H₂O(l)
Question 7
A. Zinc reacted with hydronium ions (H₃O⁺) supplied by HCl.
B. 2H₃O⁺ + 2e⁻ → H₂(g) + 2H₂O
C. Zn(s) + 2H₃O⁺(aq) → Zn²⁺(aq) + H₂(g) + 2H₂O(l)
Question 8
A. Cu is a weaker reducing agent than Mg, Mg²⁺ is a weaker oxidizing agent than Cu².
No reaction will occur because Cu does not have high enough electron energy to
reduce Mg²⁺.
B. Mg is a stronger reducing agent than Cu, Cu²⁺ is a stronger oxidizing agent than
Mg²⁺. Yes, a reaction will occur. Mg will reduce Cu²⁺ to Cu metal.
Part B
Table 1: cell potentials v/s a Cu2+/Cu Couple
Electrochemical cell Half cell being studied Measured potential
differences v/s Cu2+/Cu in
V
Copper/copper Cu2+/Cu 0.00
Silver-copper Ag1+/Ag 0.40
Lead-copper Pb2+/Pb +0.10
Zinc-copper Zn2+/Zn -1.00
Table 2: Cell potentials in order with half reactions
Half cell Measured cell Calculated cell Standard
potential (Most potential vs SHE reduction
negative to most potential
positive)
Zn²⁺/Zn –1.00 –0.66 -0.76
Pb²⁺/Pb +0.10 –0.24 -0.13
Cu²⁺/Cu 0.00 +0.34 +0.34
Ag⁺/Ag +0.40 +0.74 +0.80
Question 9
A. Zinc, because it donates electrons most readily.
Question 10
• Zn²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Zn (–0.76 V)
• Pb²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Pb (–0.13 V)
• Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu (+0.34 V)
• Ag⁺ + e⁻ → Ag (+0.80 V)
QUESTION 11
• I would place Mg²⁺/Mg above Zn²⁺/Zn, at the top of the table with the most negative
standard potential (E° = –2.37 V). It is the strongest reducing agent among those
tested.
Conclusion
This experiment successfully demonstrated the principles of redox reactions and
electrochemical cells. In Part A, the relative strengths of oxidizing and reducing agents
were determined through visible reactions with known test reagents. Among the oxidizing
agents, MnO₄⁻ was the strongest, reacting readily with both H₂O₂ and KI, while Mg²⁺ was
the weakest, showing no visible reaction. Among the reducing agents, Mg was the
strongest, reacting with both water and hydrochloric acid, while Cu was the weakest,
showing limited reactivity.
In Part B, the measured cell potentials between various half-cells were consistent with
known standard reduction potentials. The Zn²⁺/Zn couple had the most negative
potential, confirming zinc as the strongest reducing agent tested. The Ag⁺/Ag couple had
the most positive potential, confirming silver ion as the strongest oxidizing agent. The
calculated potentials relative to the Standard Hydrogen Electrode (SHE) aligned well with
literature values, validating the experimental setup.
Overall, the practical provided a strong link between theoretical concepts and
experimental observations, reinforcing how electron transfer governs chemical reactivity
and how standard reduction potentials predict redox behaviour.
