CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

How does diluting a solution effect the Ecell value? This was a question on test 2.

If it is a concentration cell, diluting the side with a lower concentration would increase the concentration difference between the anode and the cathode, causing the cell potential to increase.

It depends on where the dilution takes place but diluting the cathode solution should decrease the cell potential.

If it's a cathode solution (like on test 2) then diluting it will decrease cell potential

Remember that E˚(cell) = E˚(cathode) - E˚(anode). The greater the concentration difference between the cathode and anode, the greater your standard cell potential. If you dilute the cathode, you will decrease the cell potential because you are lowering the concentration of the cathode, lowering the concentration difference between the cathode and anode. Meanwhile, if you dilute the anode, you are making the anode concentration smaller which increases the concentration difference between the cathode and the anode, making the cell potential increase.

Well it really depends on where it is actually taking place but if it's in the side with a lower concentration would increase the concentration. In a cathode solution, it would decrease the cell potential.

It is important to note where the dilution is occurring as it will affect cell potential differently if it is in the cathode or anode. You can use E˚(cell) = E˚(cathode) - E˚(anode) to get a better understanding. When the cathode is diluted, cell potential decreases due to the lower cathode. Therefore, when the dilution occurs in the anode, the cell potential increases.

Does this apply to both galvanic and concentration cells? Do the differences between these two types of cells affect the way a dilution affects the Ecell?

Diluting the cathode solution decreases the value of the cell potential, while diluting the anode solution increases the value of the cell potential. This is because of the differences between the anode and cathode when finding Ecell=Ecathode-Eanode.

I believe it should decrease the cell potential.

dilution usually decreases all of the cell potential :)

dilution decreases cell potential I am pretty sure

Ecell= Ecathode-Eanode

So if there is a greater difference between the two chambers than the cell potential would increase. So it depends on which side the dilution is occurring on.

Hope this helps:)

Dilution will decrease cell potential.

i always get a bit confused with this but can someone briefly explain what exactly dilution is please?
i guess more specifically, what it means to dilute something/what is happening when something is being diluted

LeanneBagood_2F wrote:i always get a bit confused with this but can someone briefly explain what exactly dilution is please?
i guess more specifically, what it means to dilute something/what is happening when something is being diluted

Usually when you dilute a solution, you add water to it, which decreases the concentration of whatever is in the solution. Since molarity = n/V, and you increase V when you add water, that decreases the concentration and you dilute the solution. If you keep in mind that E˚(cell) = E˚(cathode) - E˚(anode), you can determine how dilution will effect the Ecell. If you dilute the cathode solution, Ecathode will decrease, decreasing Ecell. If you dilute the anode solution, Eanode will decrease, increasing the Ecell since it's being subtracted from Ecathode.

Xavier Herrera 3H wrote:

LeanneBagood_2F wrote:i always get a bit confused with this but can someone briefly explain what exactly dilution is please?
i guess more specifically, what it means to dilute something/what is happening when something is being diluted

Usually when you dilute a solution, you add water to it, which decreases the concentration of whatever is in the solution. Since molarity = n/V, and you increase V when you add water, that decreases the concentration and you dilute the solution. If you keep in mind that E˚(cell) = E˚(cathode) - E˚(anode), you can determine how dilution will effect the Ecell. If you dilute the cathode solution, Ecathode will decrease, decreasing Ecell. If you dilute the anode solution, Eanode will decrease, increasing the Ecell since it's being subtracted from Ecathode.

Thank you for this explanation! I was confused about this too and this was really helpful. Thanks again!