In: Chemistry
Consider a concentration cell. Two Ag-electrodes are immersed in
AgNO3 solutions of different concentrations. When the two
compartments have an AgNO3-concentration of 1 M and 0.1 M,
respectively, the measured voltage is 0.065 V (note: T in not
necessarily = 25°C !).
a. What is the voltage, if the two compartments have AgNO3-concentration of 1 M and 0.01 M, respectively?
The electrochemical behavior of silver nanoclusters (Agn, with n
the number of Ag atoms in the cluster) is investigated using the
following electrochemical cells at 298 K:
I. Ag(s) | AgCl (saturated) || Ag+(aq, 0.01M) |
Ag(s), E=0.170
II. (Pt electrode) Agn (s, nanocluster) | Ag+(aq,
0.01M) || AgCl (saturated) | Ag(s), with E = +1.030 V for
Ag5 nanocluster and E = +0.430 V for Ag10 nanocluster
The standard reduction potential for Ag+ + e- → Ag, is E0 = +0.800 V.
b. Use this data to calculate the solubility product of AgCl.
The two nanoclusters Ag5 and Ag10-nanoclusters have standard potentials different from the potential of metallic bulk silver.
c. Calculate the standard potentials of Ag5 and of Ag10 nanoclusters. [for this part use Ksp(AgCl)=1.800·10-5; this is not the same value as calculated in b.]
d. What happens, if you put the Ag10 nanoclusters and – in a second experiment – the Ag5 nanoclusters into an aqueous solution of pH=5? Estimate the consequences using the reduction potentials you calculated.