Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Chemistry

Chapter

Physical: Electro Chemistry

Question:

Read the passage carefully and answer.

When a metal is placed in a solution of its ions, the metal can lose electron and can go in the solution as ion or the metal ion in the solution can take electron from the electrode and get deposited as metal. Thus, the electrode acquires either positive or negative charge with respect to the solution leading to the development of a potential difference between the metal electrode and the solution. This potential difference is called the electrode potential of the metal. The electrode potential of a metal is a measure of relative tendency to undergo oxidation (loss of electron) or reduction (gain of electron). When the concentration of the ions in the solution is unity, the electrode potential is called standard electrode potential. The magnitude of potential depends upon the nature of electrode, concentration of ions in solution and the temperature. In a galvanic cell, the electrode at which oxidation occurs is known as anodic half-cell and the electrode at which reduction occurs is known as cathodic half cell. The emf of the cell in terms of standard reduction potential is given by $E°_{cell} = E°_{cathode} - E°_{anode}$. The standard free energy change of the redox reaction taking place in the cell is related to $E°_{cell}$ by $ΔG°= -nFE°$. A redox reaction would occur spontaneously if the free energy change is negative. The equilibrium constant of the reaction is related to the standard free energy change by $ΔG°= -RT$ In K.

The half cell reaction is the one that

Options:

Consumes half a mole of electrolyte

Takes place at one electrode of a Galvanic cell

Reduces the concentration of electrolyte to half of its initial value

Reduces the electrode potential to half its initial value

Correct Answer:

Takes place at one electrode of a Galvanic cell

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (2) → Takes place at one electrode of a Galvanic cell

A half-cell reaction (also called half-reaction) refers to the oxidation or reduction process that occurs at one electrode in an electrochemical cell (like a galvanic cell).

  • In a galvanic cell:
    • Anodic half-cell: Oxidation occurs (e.g., Zn → Zn²⁺ + 2e⁻).
    • Cathodic half-cell: Reduction occurs (e.g., Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu).
  • Each of these is a half-cell reaction, and the overall cell reaction is the sum of the two half-cell reactions.