JEE Advance - Chemistry (1992 - No. 16)

For the galvanic cell
Ag | AgCl(s), KCl (0.2M) || KBr (0.001M), AgBr(s) | Ag
Calculate the EMF generated and assign correct polarity to each electrode for a spontaneous process after taking into account the cell reaction at 25oC.
[Ksp(AgCl) = 2.8 $$times$$ 10-10; Ksp(AgBr) = 3.3 $$times$$ 10-13]
0.037 V; Ag | AgCl(s), KCl (0.2M) is positive and AgBr (0.001M), Ag | Ag is negative
-0.037 V; Ag | AgCl(s), KCl (0.2M) is negative and AgBr (0.001M), Ag | Ag is positive
0.059 V; Ag | AgCl(s), KCl (0.2M) is positive and AgBr (0.001M), Ag | Ag is negative
-0.059 V; Ag | AgCl(s), KCl (0.2M) is negative and AgBr (0.001M), Ag | Ag is positive
0.037 V; Ag | AgCl(s), KCl (0.2M) is negative and AgBr (0.001M), Ag | Ag is positive

Explanation

For the galvanic cell,

$$Ag|AgCl(s)$$, $$KCl(0.2M)||KBr(0.001\,M)$$, $$AgBr(s)|Ag$$

$${E_{cell}} = {{0.591} \over n}\log {{[A{g^ + }]AgBr} \over {[A{g^ + }]AgCl}}$$ ...... (1)

Given, $${K_{sp}}(AgCl) = 2.8 \times {10^{ - 10}}$$. Now, [Cl$$-$$] = 0.2 (M)

$$\therefore$$ $$2.8 \times {10^{ - 10}} = {[A{g^ + }]_{AgCl}} \times 0.2$$

or, $${[A{g^ + }]_{AgCl}} = {{2.8 \times {{10}^{ - 10}}} \over {0.2}} = 14 \times {10^{ - 10}}(M)$$

Given, $${K_{sp}}(AgBr) = 3.3 \times {10^{ - 13}}$$. Here, [Br$$-$$] = 0.001 M

$$\therefore$$ $$3.3 \times {10^{ - 13}} = {[A{g^ + }]_{AgBr}} \times 0.001$$

or, $${[A{g^ + }]_{AgBr}} = {{3.3 \times {{10}^{ - 13}}} \over {0.001}} = 3.3 \times {10^{ - 10}}$$ (M)

Substituting in equation (1), $${E_{cell}} = {{0.059} \over 1}\log {{3.3 \times {{10}^{ - 10}}} \over {14 \times {{10}^{ - 10}}}}$$

= 0.059 $$\times$$ ($$-$$ 0.6274) = $$-$$ 0.037 V

The negative value of Ecell indicates that the cell reaction $$[AgBr(s) + C{l^ - }(aq) \to AgCl(s) + B{r^ - }(aq)]$$ is not spontaneous but the reverse reaction is spontaneous as in this case Ecell = +0.037 V. To carry out the reverse reaction, the polarity of the given cell should be reversed i.e., the anode should be made cathode, and vice-versa.

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