An electrochemical cell involves a spontaneous redox reaction used in everyday life to produce electricity.
Students design two half-cells so that electron transfer occurs through an external circuit.
They use the table of standard reduction potentials for half-cells to predict cell reaction and spontaneity and to calculate cell voltages. Have students construct several electrochemical cells, observe the half-cell reaction at each electrode, measure the voltage, and investigate some factors that affect cell voltage. Then have them draw a labelled diagram showing the anode, cathode, salt bridge, electrolyte, electron flow, and ion migrations for each cell. Show a video that explains the theoretical aspects or applications of electrochemical cells. Have students complete a summary worksheet.