The Electrochemical Series

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The Electrochemical Series

• Intermediate 2 Chemistry
• Unit 3(c)

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V

• If you set up this experiment, what would happen?

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V
Salt solution

• What name is given to a solution like the one
  above?

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A cell
The metal HIGHER in the electrochemical series
LOSES electrons to the metal lower
down. ELECTRONS flow through the wires. IONS
flow through the solution to complete the circuit.
V
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The electrochemical series (ECS)
Electrons flow from one metal to another to
create a voltage Imagine you connect different
metals to TIN...

• Aluminium
• Zinc
• Iron
• Tin
• Lead

Mg Cu Sn
1.2 V -0.5 V 0 V
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Mg Cu Sn
1.2 V -0.5 V 0 V
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Magnesium Aluminium Zinc Iron Tin Lead Copper
Above tin Large gap
Below tin Small gap
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The problem...

• You have a selection of different metals, but you
  dont know what any of them are
• By connecting them together in cells
• rank them according to their position in the ECS
• suggest what metal each one actually is
• Tip the metal you start with (and are
  comparing to) should always be connected to the
  ve terminal of the voltmeter

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Half cells