Two standard galvanic cells are shown below - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 11 - 2009 - Paper 1
Question 11
Two standard galvanic cells are shown below.
On the basis of the polarity of the electrodes shown above, which one of the following reactions would not be expected ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Two standard galvanic cells are shown below - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 11 - 2009 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify the reactions given
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Answer
The reactions provided in the options A to D need to be understood in the context of galvanic cells. Each half-reaction should be analyzed for its spontaneous nature based on the electrodes' polarity.
Step 2
Determine the spontaneous reactions
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Answer
Reactions in galvanic cells occur spontaneously if they have a positive overall cell potential. In this case, based on standard reduction potentials, we would analyze each option to find which does not yield a positive cell potential.
Step 3
Answer the question
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Answer
Based on the properties of galvanic cells, the reaction that would not be expected to occur spontaneously from the given options is: