1.) Can you explain to me how Faraday's Constant works in electrolytic cells? (We did a lab experiment on copper wires and sulfuric acid, collecting H2 gas.) I'm not sure how to answer the question.
2.) Does copper conduct more electricity than platinum? Why or why not?
1.) Faraday's Constant is a fundamental constant in electrochemistry that relates the amount of electric charge passed through an electrolytic cell to the amount of substance produced or consumed during an electrochemical reaction. It is denoted by the symbol F and has a value of approximately 96,485 C/mol.
To understand how Faraday's Constant works in electrolytic cells, we need to consider the basic principles of electrolysis. In an electrolytic cell, an electric current is passed through an electrolyte, causing a chemical reaction to occur. This process involves the transfer of electrons and ions, leading to the deposition of a substance on one electrode (cathode) and the release of another substance from the other electrode (anode).
The amount of substance produced or consumed during the electrolysis process is directly proportional to the quantity of electric charge passed through the cell. According to Faraday's first law of electrolysis, the mass of a substance produced or consumed in an electrolytic reaction is directly proportional to the quantity of electric charge passed through the cell.
Faraday's Constant allows us to relate the quantity of electric charge (measured in coulombs, C) to the number of moles of substance involved in the reaction. It tells us the amount of charge needed to produce or consume one mole of a substance during electrolysis. Mathematically, we can express this relationship using the equation:
Q = nF
Where Q is the total charge passed in coulombs, n is the number of moles of substance produced or consumed, and F is Faraday's Constant. Rearranging this equation, we can solve for the number of moles (n):
n = Q / F
So, to determine the amount of substance produced or consumed during the electrolysis of a solution, you can divide the total charge passed through the cell by Faraday's Constant.
In the context of your lab experiment with copper wires and sulfuric acid, collecting H2 gas, you can use Faraday's Constant to calculate the number of moles of hydrogen gas produced based on the amount of charge passed through the cell.
2.) Copper is a better conductor of electricity than platinum. This is due to the difference in their respective electronic structures and conductive properties.
Copper has a higher electrical conductivity than platinum because of its electron configuration and crystal lattice structure. It has a loosely bound outermost electron in its atomic structure, which is free to move and carry electric charge. These mobile electrons in copper form a "sea of electrons" that can easily flow through the metal, allowing for efficient flow of electric current.
On the other hand, platinum has a denser and more ordered crystal lattice structure, which hinders the movement of electrons. It has a lower electron mobility compared to copper, resulting in poorer electrical conductivity.
Therefore, when comparing copper and platinum, copper is the preferred choice for applications requiring high electrical conductivity, such as electrical wiring, whereas platinum is more commonly used in catalysts or jewelry, where its chemical and physical properties are more important than electrical conductivity.