
HL Paper 3
Discuss the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide from brine using a membrane cell. Include in your answer the materials used for the electrodes, the equations taking place at each electrode and why this method has replaced the mercury cell.
A fuel cell is an energy conversion device that generates electricity from a spontaneous redox reaction.
The Geobacter species of bacteria can be used in microbial fuel cells to oxidise aqueous ethanoate ions,
CH3COO−(aq), to carbon dioxide gas.
State the half-equations for the reactions at both electrodes.
A concentration cell is an example of an electrochemical cell.
(i) State the difference between a concentration cell and a standard voltaic cell.
(ii) The overall redox equation and the standard cell potential for a voltaic cell are:
Zn (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Cu (s) Eθcell = +1.10 V
Determine the cell potential E at 298 K to three significant figures given the following concentrations in mol dm−3:
[Zn2+] = 1.00 × 10−4 [Cu2+] = 1.00 × 10−1
Use sections 1 and 2 of the data booklet.
(iii) Deduce, giving your reason, whether the reaction in (b) (ii) is more or less spontaneous than in the standard cell.
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) convert solar energy into electrical energy.
(i) Describe how a DSSC converts sunlight into electrical energy.
(ii) Explain the role of the electrolyte solution containing iodide ions, I−, and triiodide ions, I3−, in the DSSC.