Topic 9: Redox processes - 9.2 Electrochemical cells

Nature of science: Ethical implications of research-the desire to produce energy can be driven by social needs or profit. (4.5)

Understandings

Essential idea: Voltaic cells convert chemical energy to electrical energy and electrolytic cells convert electrical energy to chemical energy.

Voltaic (Galvanic) cells:o Voltaic cells convert energy from spontaneous, exothermic chemical processes to electrical energy.

Oxidation occurs at the anode (negative electrode) and reduction occurs at the cathode (positive electrode) in a voltaic cell.

Electrolytic cells

Electrolytic cells convert electrical energy to chemical energy, by bringing about non-spontaneous processes.

Oxidation occurs at the anode (positive electrode) and reduction occurs at the cathode (negative electrode) in an electrolytic cell.

Applications and skills

Construction and annotation of both types of electrochemical cells.

Explanation of how a redox reaction is used to produce electricity in a voltaic cell and how current is conducted in an electrolytic cell.

Distinction between electron and ion flow in both electrochemical cells.

Performance of laboratory experiments involving a typical voltaic cell using two metal/metal-ion half-cells.

Deduction of the products of the electrolysis of a molten salt

Guidance

For voltaic cells, a cell diagram convention should be covered