Consider a galvanic cell with a beaker of sulfuric acid and a beaker of nitric acid. The sulfuric acid beaker contains a strip of tin, and the nitric acid cell contains a strip of platinum. A wire runs between the strips. The reaction that occurs is as follows:
3Sn(s) + 2NO3–(aq) + 8H+(aq) → 3Sn2+(aq) + 2NO(g) + 4H2O(l)
In three to five sentences, list which electrode is the anode and which is the cathode and the half reactions that occur at each electrode.
drbob always getting ratio’d
In this galvanic cell, the anode is the strip of tin in the sulfuric acid beaker, while the cathode is the strip of platinum in the nitric acid beaker. At the anode, the half-reaction is the oxidation of tin (Sn) as it loses electrons to form tin ions (Sn2+). The half-reaction at the cathode is the reduction of nitrate ions (NO3–) and hydrogen ions (H+) to produce nitric oxide gas (NO) and water (H2O).
To determine which electrode is the anode and which is the cathode, we need to understand the concept of oxidation and reduction reactions. In a galvanic cell, the anode is where oxidation occurs, leading to the loss of electrons, while the cathode is where reduction occurs, leading to the gain of electrons.
In this case, the tin strip (Sn) is being oxidized, losing electrons to form Sn2+ ions. Therefore, the tin electrode is the anode. The half-reaction occurring at the anode is:
Sn(s) → Sn2+(aq) + 2e–
On the other hand, the platinum strip (Pt) is not directly involved in the oxidation or reduction reactions, but rather acts as a catalyst to facilitate the reduction reaction. Therefore, the platinum electrode is the cathode. The half-reaction occurring at the cathode is:
2NO3–(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 6e– → 2NO(g) + 4H2O(l)
Overall, the galvanic cell utilizes the spontaneous redox reaction between tin and nitrate ions to generate an electric current.
I don't know why it takes three to five sentences to say Sn or Pt.
Remember two definitions:
1. Oxidation occurs at the anode of a cell.
2. Oxidation is the loss of electrons.
So all you need to determine is which half cell lost electrons and that MUST occur at one of the electrodes. Write the half cells, if you can't do it from the equation in the problem, and see which lost electrons.