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JEE Advanced 2017 Paper 1 · Chemistry · Electrochemistry · medium

A galvanic cell is Zn(s) | Zn^2+(0.10 M) \| Cu^2+(0.010 M) | Cu(s) at 298 K. Given E^°(Zn^2+/Zn)=-0.76 V, E^°(Cu^2+/Cu)=+0.34 V, F=96500 C mol^-1 and…

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A galvanic cell is Zn(s) ∣ Zn2+(0.10 M) ∥ Cu2+(0.010 M) ∣ Cu(s)\mathrm{Zn(s)\,|\,Zn^{2+}(0.10\ M)\,\|\,Cu^{2+}(0.010\ M)\,|\,Cu(s)} at 298 K298\ \mathrm{K}. Given E∘(Zn2+/Zn)=−0.76 VE^\circ(\mathrm{Zn^{2+}/Zn})=-0.76\ \mathrm{V}, E∘(Cu2+/Cu)=+0.34 VE^\circ(\mathrm{Cu^{2+}/Cu})=+0.34\ \mathrm{V}, F=96500 C mol−1F=96500\ \mathrm{C\,mol^{-1}} and 2.303RTF=0.0592 V\dfrac{2.303RT}{F}=0.0592\ \mathrm{V}. The CORRECT statement(s) is/are
  1. A. The cell emf is 1.07 V1.07\ \mathrm{V}.
  2. B. The free energy change for the cell reaction per mole of Zn\mathrm{Zn} oxidised is about −207 kJ-207\ \mathrm{kJ}.
  3. C. Diluting the Zn2+\mathrm{Zn^{2+}} half-cell with water (lowering [Zn2+][\mathrm{Zn^{2+}}]) decreases the emf.
  4. D. The equilibrium constant of the cell reaction is of the order of 103710^{37}.
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Answer: A, B, D

The cell reaction is Zn+Cu2+→Zn2++Cu\mathrm{Zn+Cu^{2+}\to Zn^{2+}+Cu} with n=2n=2 and Ecell∘=0.34−(−0.76)=1.10 VE^\circ_\mathrm{cell}=0.34-(-0.76)=1.10\ \mathrm{V}. The Nernst equation gives E=E∘−0.05922log⁡[Zn2+][Cu2+]=1.10−0.0296log⁡10=1.0704 VE=E^\circ-\tfrac{0.0592}{2}\log\dfrac{[\mathrm{Zn^{2+}}]}{[\mathrm{Cu^{2+}}]}=1.10-0.0296\log10=1.0704\ \mathrm{V}, so (A) is correct. (B) ΔG=−nFE=−2(96500)(1.0704)=−206.6 kJ mol−1\Delta G=-nFE=-2(96500)(1.0704)=-206.6\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}, i.e. about −207-207 kJ: correct. (C) A smaller [Zn2+][\mathrm{Zn^{2+}}] makes the reaction quotient QQ smaller, so log⁡Q\log Q falls and EE rises; dilution of the zinc half-cell increases the emf: wrong. (D) At equilibrium E=0E=0 and log⁡K=nE∘/0.0592=2(1.10)/0.0592=37.2\log K=nE^\circ/0.0592=2(1.10)/0.0592=37.2, so K=1.5×1037K=1.5\times10^{37}: correct. Note that ΔG\Delta G at the stated concentrations uses EE, not E∘E^\circ; using E∘E^\circ would give −212-212 kJ, a typical distractor.
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