E
θ
Cell
=
+
2.115
l
V
Cathode
Mg
2
+
/
Mg
Anode
Ni
2
+
/
Ni
Explanation:
Look up the reduction potential for each cell in question on a table of standard electrode potential like this one from Chemistry LibreTexts. [1]
Mg
2
+
(
a
q
)
+
2
l
e
−
→
Mg
(
s
)
−
E
θ
=
−
2.372
l
V
Ni
2
+
(
a
q
)
+
2
l
e
−
→
Ni
(
s
)
−
E
θ
=
−
0.257
l
V
The standard reduction potential
E
θ
resembles the electrode's strength as an oxidizing agent and equivalently its tendency to get reduced. The reduction potential of a Platinum-Hydrogen Electrode under standard conditions (
298
l
K
,
1.00
l
kPa
) is defined as
0
l
V
for reference. [2]
A cell with a high reduction potential indicates a strong oxidizing agent- vice versa for a cell with low reduction potentials.
Two half cells connected with an external circuit and a salt bridge make a galvanic cell; the half-cell with the higher
E
θ
and thus higher likelihood to be reduced will experience reduction and act as the cathode, whereas the half-cell with a lower
E
θ
will experience oxidation and act the anode.
E
θ
(
Ni
2
+
/
Ni
)
>
E
θ
(
Mg
2
+
/
Mg
)
Therefore in this galvanic cell, the
Ni
2
+
/
Ni
half-cell will experience reduction and act as the cathode and the
Mg
2
+
/
Mg
the anode.
The standard cell potential of a galvanic cell equals the standard reduction potential of the cathode minus that of the anode. That is:
E
θ
cell
=
E
θ
(
Cathode
)
−
E
θ
(
Anode
)
E
θ
cell
=
−
0.257
−
(
−
2.372
)
E
θ
cell
=
+
2.115
Indicating that connecting the two cells will generate a potential difference of
+
2.115
l
V
across the two cells.
The chemical reaction is written as:
2Zn + O2 = 2ZnO
We are given the amount of the product to be produced from the reaction. We use this value and the relation of the substances in the reaction to calculate what is asked. We do as follows:
2.10 g ZnO ( 1 mol / 81.408 g ) ( 1 mol O2 / 2 mol ZnO ) ( 32 g / 1 mol ) = 0.414 g O2 is needed
