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Cell Diagram
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:40 pm
by Jared Smith 1E
Can someone please walk me through how to put together a cell diagram step-by-step? I know that the reduction half goes on the right and the oxidation half goes on the left, but beyond that, I'm completely lost.
Any help would be really appreciated!
Re: Cell Diagram
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:53 pm
by Curtis Wong 2D
For each part (reduction and oxidation), the reactants go on the left, and the products go on the right and are separated by a |.
Thus, it looks like this
(reactant of anode)|(product of anoode)||(reactant of cathode)|(product of cathode)
If the reactants and products are in the same phase (ie aqueous), then they are not separated by a|.
If there is a solid conductor, then those are placed at the ends of the anode/cathode/possibly both. Depends on the reaction.
Re: Cell Diagram
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:56 pm
by Jonathan Tangonan 1E
A double vertical line, || , represents a salt bridge.
A single vertical line, | , would represent a phase boundary.
Whenever a comma is used that is used to separate substances that are in the same phase.
And the phases are included within parentheses
And like you said, the reduction goes on the right of the salt bridge whereas the oxidation goes on the left side of the salt bridge.
Example:
Zn(s)+Cu2+(aq)->Zn2+(aq)+Cu(s)
So you're going to want to identify your reduction and oxidation of the equation so:
oxidation: Zn(s)->Zn2+(aq)+2e-
reduction: Cu2+(aq)+2e-->Cu(s)
And then proceed to write out the diagram, with the oxidation on the left and reduction on the right.
Zn(s)|Zn2+(aq)||Cu2+(aq)|Cu(s)
Re: Cell Diagram
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:59 pm
by Justin Folk 3I
Is the salt bridge also connected to, say, Pt(s)? or just metal wire?