Question

diagram is attached, please use it to help me answer this question (a) Write the Cathode and anode half reactions(b) What is the theoretical minimum voltage needed to operate this cell?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Before we proceed to write the cathode and anode half reactions, we have to identify the anode and the cathode

The cathode is connected to negative terminal, while anode is connected to the positive terminal

Reduction i.e electron gain happens at the cathode while oxidation i.e electron loss happens at the anode

From the set-up that we have, copper is the cathode, while gold is the anode

We have the half cell reactions as follows:

`\begin{gathered} Cathodic\text{ half cell reaction:} \\ Cu^(2+)\text{ + 2e}^-\text{ }\rightarrow\text{ Cu}_((s)) \\ \\ Anodic\text{ half cell:} \\ \text{ Au}_((s))\rightarrow\text{ Au}^(2+)\text{ + 2e}^- \end{gathered}`

b) We want to get the theoretical minimum voltage

We calculate that as follows: