Investigating The Voltage In a Voltaic Cell

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Investigating the Voltage in a Voltaic Cell: The Length of Electrodes Introduction: In chemistry, there is the ability to control the flow of electrons in a redox reaction. When redox reactions occur, electrons are released at the abode and travels to the cathode. The transportation of electrons causes an electric potential difference. For this experiment the electrodes will be analyzed by being in a solution containing metal ions. This experiment tests the effects of different length electrodes in voltaic cells. A voltmeter will be used to measure the voltage produced and determine if the length of the electrode has any bearing on the amount of volts created. Problem: How do different length electrodes affect the voltage in voltaic cells? Hypothesis: If the length of the electrode is long, then the voltage will be low. Variables: Independent: Length of Electrodes Dependent: Voltage of Cell Control: Concentration and amount of solutions in well (.1M Copper Sulfate and Zinc Sulfate), similar salt bridges (length & concentration), same voltmeter, temperature and pressure. The controlled variables are controlled by using the same “batch” of the solutions, so when the solutions of copper sulfate, zinc sulfate and saline solutions are made they are made all at once and the same solutions used for every trial. The salt bridges should be cut to the same size and then all soaked in the saline solution. The same voltmeter should be used to measure all voltages and the experiment will be conducted at around the same time so that the temperature and pressure of the environment does not change. Materials: • 100 mL .1M Copper Sulfate (CuSO4· 5 H2O ) • 100 mL .1M Zinc Sulfate (ZnSO4· H2O ) • 5 mm x 1 mm Salt Bridges (saline solution and filter paper) • 18 mm strip of Zinc o 1 mm x 1 mm o 2 mm x 1 mm o 3 mm x 1 mm • 18 mm strips of Copper o 1 mm x 1 mm o 2

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