Given, (i) $\mathrm{Cu}^{2+}+2 \mathrm{e}^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}$, $\mathrm{E}^{\circ}=0.337…

Given,
(i) $\mathrm{Cu}^{2+}+2 \mathrm{e}^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}$,
$\mathrm{E}^{\circ}=0.337 \mathrm{~V}$
(ii) $\mathrm{Cu}^{2+}+\mathrm{e}^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}^{+}$,
$\mathrm{E}^{\circ}=0.153 \mathrm{~V}$
Electrode potential, $\mathrm{E}^{\circ}$ for the reaction, $\mathrm{Cu}+\mathrm{e}^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}$, will be
  1. $0.52 \mathrm{~V}$
  2. $0.90 \mathrm{~V}$
  3. $0.30 \mathrm{~V}$
  4. $0.38 \mathrm{~V}$

Solution

Key Idea Gibb's free energy is an additive property. $\Delta \mathrm{G}^{\circ}=-\mathrm{nFE}^{\circ}$ For reaction, $\mathrm{Cu}^{2+}+2 \mathrm{e}^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}$; $\Delta G^{\circ}=-2 \times \mathrm{F} \times 0.337$ ...(i) For reaction, $\mathrm{Cu}^{+} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}^{2+}+\mathrm{e}^{-}$; $\Delta \mathrm{G}^{\circ}=+1 \times \mathrm{F} \times 0.153$ ...(ii) Adding Eqs. (i) and (ii), we get $\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Cu}^{+}+\mathrm{e}^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu} ; \quad \Delta \mathrm{G}^{\circ}=-0.521 \\ \quad \Delta \mathrm{G}^{\circ}=-\mathrm{nFE}^{\circ} \\ -0.521 \mathrm{~F}=-\mathrm{nFE}^{\circ} \\ \therefore \quad \mathrm{E}^{\circ}=0.52 \mathrm{~V} \end{gathered}$

Asked in: NEET 2009 (Screening)

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