Final answer:
Yes, you can construct an electrochemical cell with two half-cells composed of ZnSO₄ solution and zinc electrodes. One half-cell contains zinc metal in zinc sulfate solution, the other half-cell contains a different metal and its salt solution. The reaction in the cell generates an electric current.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, you can construct an electrochemical cell with two half-cells composed of a ZnSO₄ solution and zinc electrodes. In this cell, one half-cell contains a strip of zinc metal in a solution of zinc sulfate, while the other half-cell contains a different metal and its salt solution, such as copper metal in a copper (II) sulfate solution. The two half-cells are connected by a wire and a porous membrane to complete the circuit.
When the circuit is closed, a spontaneous reaction occurs. The zinc metal in the zinc half-cell is oxidized to Zn²+ ions (anode) while the copper (II) ions in the copper half-cell are reduced to copper metal (cathode). This generates an electric current.
The overall reaction for the electrochemical cell is:
Zn(s) + Cu²+(aq) ⟶ Zn²+(aq) + Cu(s)