Examples using Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)

1. Find the e.m.f. of the cell

2+

Fe | Fe || Pb | Pb
LHS

Electrode

Eo / V

2+

RHS

Fe2+ + 2e-
Pb2+

+ 2e-

Fe

-0.44

Pb

-0.13

Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)

= Eo(Pb, Pb2+) Eo(Fe, Fe2+)
= -0.13 + 0.44
= +0.31V

2. Find the e.m.f. of the cell

2+

Cu | Cu || Mg | Mg
LHS

RHS

Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)

= Eo(Mg, Mg2+) Eo(Cu, Cu2+)
= -2.37 - 0.34
= -2.71V

James Mungall 2010

Electrode

Eo / V

2+

Mg2+ + 2e-
Cu2+

+ 2e-

Mg

-2.37

Cu

+0.34

3. Find Eo for Sn2+, Sn if

Ag | Ag+ || Sn2+ | Sn

Eocell = -0.94V

H2 | H+ || Ag+ | Ag

Eocell = +0.80V

re-writing the question

Electrode

Ag | Ag+ || Sn2+ | Sn
LHS

RHS

Sn2+ + 2e-
Ag+

+ e-

UNKNOWN

Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)

Eocell = Eo(Sn, Sn2+) Eo(Ag, Ag+)
Eocell + Eo(Ag, Ag+) = Eo(Sn, Sn2+)
Eo(Sn, Sn2+) = -0.94+ 0.80
= -0.14V

James Mungall 2010

Eo / V

Sn

UNKNOWN

Ag

+0.80

4. Given:
Pt | Cr2+, Cr3+ || Cu2+ | Cu
Cu2+ + 2e-

Cu

Eocell = +0.75V
Eo

= +0.34V

Find:
Eo for

Cr3+ + e- Cr2+

re-writing the question

Pt | Cr2+, Cr3+ || Cu2+ | Cu
LHS
RHS

Electrode
Cr3+ + eCu2+

Eo / V

+ 2e-

Cr2+

UNKNOWN

Cu

+0.34

UNKNOWN

Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)

Eocell = Eo(Cu, Cu2+) Eo(Cr3+, Cr2+)
Eo(Cr3+, Cr2+) = Eo(Cu, Cu2+) - Eocell
Eo(Cr3+, Cr2+) = +0.34 0.75
= -0.41V

examples taken from

Jim Clark, Calculations in AS/A Level Chemistry (2000). Pearson Education.

James Mungall 2010