Question

Positive Terminal	Negative Terminal Copper	Negative Terminal Magnesium	Negative Terminal Iron	Negative Terminal Aluminum	Negative Terminal Zinc
Copper	XXXXXXXX	1.528 V	0.015 V	0.012 V	-0.006 V
Magnesium	0.012 V	XXXXXXXX	-0.003 V	-0.003 V	-0.007 V
Iron	-0.350 V	1.120 V	XXXXXXXX	0.062 V	0.594 V
Aluminum	-0.753 V	0.713 V	-0.358 V	XXXXXXXX	-0.009 V
Zinc	-1.001 V	0.006 V	0.007 V	0.022 V	XXXXXXXX

Activity Series:

	Metal	Reduction Potential
Lowest Reduction Potential:   1	Magnesium	-1.528 V
2	Iron	-0.015 V
3	Aluminum	-0.012 V
4	Copper	0.000 V
Highest Reduction Potential: 5	Zinc	0.006

Question: Does your activity series agree with published data? If there are differences, what are they? What factors can cause a difference between experimental and reported values?

Answer 1

Table 2:

E^o_Mg²⁺/Mg = -1.528 V

E^o_Fe²⁺/Fe = -0.015 V

E^o_Al³⁺/Al = -0.012 V

E^o_Cu²⁺/Cu = 0.000 V

E^o_Zn²⁺/Zn = 0.006 V

Table 1:

2. a) Magnesium is positive terminal (i.e. cathode) and copper is negative terminal (i.e. anode)

E^o_{Mg²⁺/Mg//Cu/Cu²⁺} = 0.012 V

The experimental value = -1.528 - 0.000, i.e. -1.528 V

The difference = 0.012-(-1.528), i.e. 1.54 V

2. c) Magnesium is positive terminal (i.e. cathode) and iron is negative terminal (i.e. anode)

E^o_{Mg²⁺/Mg//Fe/Fe²⁺} = -0.003 V

The experimental value = -1.528 + 0.015, i.e. -1.513 V

The difference = -0.003-(-1.513), i.e. 1.51 V

2. d) Magnesium is positive terminal (i.e. cathode) and aluminium is negative terminal (i.e. anode)

E^o_{Mg²⁺/Mg//Al/Al³⁺} = -0.003 V

The experimental value = -1.528 + 0.012, i.e. -1.516 V

The difference = -0.003-(-1.516), i.e. 1.513 V

2. e) Magnesium is positive terminal (i.e. cathode) and zinc is negative terminal (i.e. anode)

E^o_{Mg²⁺/Mg//Zn/Zn²⁺} = -0.007 V

The experimental value = -1.528 - 0.006, i.e. -1.534 V

The difference = -0.007-(-1.534), i.e. 1.527 V

Similarly, you can calculate the differences for the remaining cases. All the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here, the activity series (table 2) doesn't agree with the published data (table 1).

The factors causing a difference between experimental and reported values could be the dryness of electrodes, i.e. if the electrodes are completely dry, then you will get the accurate value; otherwise (if wet), the experimental values will not match with the reported values.