JOHN KENNETH E.

VARGAS SORSOGON STATE COLLEGE

BSEE-2A CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS

Faculty-Marked Assignment #2

1. Define the following terms: electrochemistry, oxidation, reduction,

reducing agent, oxidizing agent, voltaic cell, anode, cathode,
electromotive force, standard reduction potential.

Electrochemistry is the study of chemical processes that cause electrons to

move. This movement of electrons is called electricity, which can be generated
by movements of electrons from one element to another in a reaction known as
an oxidation-reduction ("redox") reaction.
Oxidation is the loss of electrons during a reaction by a molecule, atom or ion.

Reduction involves a half-reaction in which a chemical species decreases

its oxidation number, usually by gaining electrons.

Reducing agent (also called a reductant or reducer) is an element (such as

calcium) or compound that loses (or "donates") an electron to
another chemical species in a redox chemical reaction.

Oxidizing agent is a reactant that removes electrons from other reactants during
a redox reaction.

Voltaic cell is an electrochemical cell that uses a chemical reaction to produce

electrical energy.

Anode is an electrode through which the conventional current enters into a

polarized electrical device.

Cathode is the electrode from which a conventional current leaves a polarized

electrical device.

Electromotive force, abbreviated emf is the electrical action produced by a

non-electrical source.

Standard oxidation potential is much like the standard reduction potential. It is

the tendency for a species to be oxidized at standard conditions. It is also
written in the form of a half reaction.
2. Suggest an explanation for why liquid water is needed in an alkaline water.
What is the advantage of using highly concentrated or solid reactants in a
voltaic cell?

Alkaline water must also contain alkaline minerals and negative oxidation
reduction potential (ORP). ORP is the ability of water to act as a pro- or
antioxidant. The more negative the ORP value, the more antioxidizing it is. A
battery is a contained unit that produces electricity, whereas a fuel cell is a
galvanic cell that requires a constant external supply of one or more reactants to
generate electricity.

3. What is the difference between a battery and a fuel cell? Can the "fuel" of a
fuel cell be a solid? Explain.

The biggest difference between the two is that a battery stores energy,
while a fuel cell generates energy by converting available fuel. A fuel cell can
have a battery as a system component to store the electricity its generating.

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a fuel cell that derives its energy directly from
the oxidation of a solid or ceramic material called an electrolyte. Ordinarily, fuel
cells are powered by substances that are gases or liquids at room temperature,
such as hydrogen, methane, propane or gasoline.

4. Magnesium metal is used as a sacrificial anode to protect underground pipes

from corrosion. Why is the magnesium referred to as a "sacrificial anode"?

Magnesium is electrochemically the most active metal employed in

common structural alloys of iron and aluminum. Mg is widely used as a sacrificial
anode to provide cathodic protection of underground and undersea metallic
structures, ships, submarines, bridges, decks, aircraft and ground transportation
systems.

5. What is electrolysis? Are electrolysis reactions thermodynamically

spontaneous? Explain.
Electrolysis is a process that uses the power of electricity to split elements
and compounds. An electric current is passed between a negatively charged
electrode called a cathode and a positively charged electrode called an
anode.

A spontaneous reaction is defined as one that will occur on its own given
sufficient time. A nonspontaneous one will never happen unless energy is put into
the reaction system. Many of the conveniences of everyday life are made
possible by both spontaneous and nonspontaneous oxidation-reduction
reactions. For example, batteries are driven by spontaneous redox reactions,
while electrolysis and electroplating rely on nonspontaneous oxidation-reduction
reactions effected by adding electrical energy to a reaction system. A
spontaneous process is the time-evolution of a system in which it releases free
energy and it moves to a lower, more thermodynamically stable energy state.
The sign convention for free energy follows the general convention for
thermodynamic measurements, in which a release of free energy from the system
corresponds to a negative change in the free energy of the system and a positive
change in the free energy of the surroundings.