A pHelectrode obeys Nernst equation and is being operated at 25oC. The...
The potential (E) of the PH electrode may be written by means of Nernst equation as
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A pHelectrode obeys Nernst equation and is being operated at 25oC. The...
The Nernst equation is a fundamental equation in electrochemistry that relates the voltage of an electrochemical cell to the activities (concentrations) of the species involved in the cell reaction. In the case of a pHelectrode, the Nernst equation can be written as:
E = E° - (0.0592/n) * log[H+]
where E is the electrode potential, E° is the standard electrode potential, [H+] is the hydrogen ion concentration (pH), and n is the number of electrons involved in the electrode reaction.
In this problem, we are given that the pH changes from 6 to 8. To calculate the change in open-circuit voltage, we need to find the difference in electrode potentials between pH 6 and pH 8.
Let's calculate the electrode potentials at pH 6 and pH 8 using the Nernst equation:
At pH 6:
E1 = E° - (0.0592/n) * log[H+]
= E° - (0.0592/n) * log(10^-6)
= E° - (0.0592/n) * (-6)
= E° + (0.0592/n) * 6
At pH 8:
E2 = E° - (0.0592/n) * log[H+]
= E° - (0.0592/n) * log(10^-8)
= E° - (0.0592/n) * (-8)
= E° + (0.0592/n) * 8
The change in open-circuit voltage is given by the difference between E2 and E1:
Change in open-circuit voltage = E2 - E1
= (E° + (0.0592/n) * 8) - (E° + (0.0592/n) * 6)
= (0.0592/n) * (8 - 6)
= (0.0592/n) * 2
= 0.118/n
Since we are not given the value of n, we cannot calculate the exact change in open-circuit voltage. However, if we assume n = 1 (which is often the case for a pHelectrode), we can calculate the change in open-circuit voltage:
Change in open-circuit voltage = 0.118/1
= 0.118 V
= 118 mV
Therefore, the change in open-circuit voltage across the electrode for a pH change from 6 to 8 is 118 millivolts.