Electrolytic+Cells

Electrolytic Cells: By Gabe Mast and Noah Mische.
[|Electrolytic cell audacity.wav]

Abstract:

 ** ELECTROLYTIC CELLS. Gabe Mast and Noah Mische. ** Batteries can be formed from a combination of many materials, such as using metals and their solutes to create an electrolytic cell. The purpose of this lab was to observe and record which combination of metal cathodes and anodes in a sulfate solution will lead to the highest voltage output and ultimately the most effective battery. The experiment was conducted using sulfates in beakers and placing a metal strip in its respective solute. These metal strips (a cathode and an anode) were connected to a voltmeter, and the beakers were connected by a potassium nitrate salt bridge. The best combination of metals was found to be copper and aluminum, which produced 1.80 volts. From this, it can be concluded that form the most productive battery and thus should be used as a model for electrolytic cells. Further research and lab work could be finding out whether the voltage can be increased and used on a greater scale to actually produce electricity to power a mechanism. ** Keywords ** : electrochemistry, electrolytic cells, voltmeter, salt bridge, cathode, anode

** Table of Results: **
 * **Graph #** || **Metal Cathodes and Anodes** || **Voltage** ||
 * Graph 1 || Copper and Magnesium || 1.65 Volts ||
 * Graph 2 || Copper and Aluminum || 1.80 Volts ||
 * Graph 3 || Copper and Iron || 0.55 Volts ||
 * Graph 4 || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Copper and Zinc || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.11 Volts ||
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Graph 5 || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Aluminum and Iron || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.34 Volts ||
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Graph 6 || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Aluminum and Magnesium || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">0.97 Volts ||
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Graph 7 || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Aluminum and Zinc || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">0.40 Volts ||
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Graph 8 || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Zinc and Magnesium || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">0.53 Volts ||

__**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">References **__ <span style="line-height: 27.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -40pt;">Carboni, G., & 1998, J. (n.d.). Experiments in Electrochemistry. //Fun Science Gallery - Scientific Experiments for Amateur Scientists and Schools//. Retrieved March 10, 2011, from http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/electro/electro.htm <span style="line-height: 27.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -40pt;">University. (n.d.). Electrolytic Cells. //Purdue University College of Science Welcome//. Retrieved March 10, 2011, from http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch20/faraday.php