PrepRung

JEE Advanced 2016 Paper 2 · Chemistry · Electrochemistry · medium

A galvanic cell is set up at 298 K as Ag(s) | AgCl(s), KCl(0.1 M) \| AgNO3(0.1 M) | Ag(s). Its measured EMF is 0.472 V. Take 2.303RT/F=0.059 V and…

Single correct option

A galvanic cell is set up at 298 K298\ \mathrm{K} as Ag(s) ∣ AgCl(s), KCl(0.1 M) ∥ AgNO3(0.1 M) ∣ Ag(s)\mathrm{Ag(s)\,|\,AgCl(s),\ KCl(0.1\ M)\,\|\,AgNO_3(0.1\ M)\,|\,Ag(s)}. Its measured EMF is 0.472 V0.472\ \mathrm{V}. Take 2.303RT/F=0.059 V2.303RT/F=0.059\ \mathrm{V} and assume ideal behaviour. The molar solubility of AgCl\mathrm{AgCl} in pure water at 298 K298\ \mathrm{K} is
  1. A. 1.0×10−5 M1.0\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{M}
  2. B. 3.2×10−5 M3.2\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{M}
  3. C. 1.0×10−4 M1.0\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{M}
  4. D. 1.0×10−10 M1.0\times10^{-10}\ \mathrm{M}
Show answer and solution

Answer: (A) 1.0×10−5 M1.0\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{M}

Both electrodes are silver, so this is a concentration cell with the cathode (right) having [Ag+]=0.1 M[\mathrm{Ag^+}]=0.1\ \mathrm{M} and the anode (left) having [Ag+][\mathrm{Ag^+}] fixed by the solubility equilibrium of AgCl in 0.1 M0.1\ \mathrm{M} chloride: [Ag+]L=Ksp/0.1[\mathrm{Ag^+}]_L=K_{sp}/0.1. Nernst equation: E=0.059log⁡[Ag+]R[Ag+]L=0.059log⁡0.1×0.1KspE=0.059\log\dfrac{[\mathrm{Ag^+}]_R}{[\mathrm{Ag^+}]_L}=0.059\log\dfrac{0.1\times0.1}{K_{sp}}. Setting E=0.472E=0.472 gives log⁡(0.01/Ksp)=8\log(0.01/K_{sp})=8, so Ksp=10−10K_{sp}=10^{-10}. In pure water s=Ksp=1.0×10−5 Ms=\sqrt{K_{sp}}=1.0\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{M}. Using [Ag+]L=Ksp[\mathrm{Ag^+}]_L=K_{sp} (ignoring common ion) gives 3.2×10−53.2\times10^{-5}; putting the chloride concentration on the wrong side gives 10−410^{-4}; quoting KspK_{sp} itself gives 10−1010^{-10}. Hence the answer is 1.0×10−5 M1.0\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{M}. As a check, the half-cell on the left behaves as a chloride electrode: its potential is lower than that of the silver electrode by exactly 0.4720.472 V, consistent with [Ag+]L=10−9 M[\mathrm{Ag^+}]_L=10^{-9}\ \mathrm{M}.
Report a mistake

Original question written in the JEE Advanced 2016 Paper 2 pattern and checked twice for the correct answer. Not an official question paper. How we write and check questions · Corrections policy · Report a mistake