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This question is about the development of lithium cells - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 9 - 2021 - Paper 1

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This question is about the development of lithium cells. The value of E° for lithium suggests that a lithium cell could have a large EMF. Table 9 shows some electro... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:This question is about the development of lithium cells - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 9 - 2021 - Paper 1

Step 1

Use data in Table 9 to explain why an aqueous electrolyte is not used for a lithium cell.

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Answer

Lithium has a standard electrode potential ( E° ) of -3.04 V, which indicates that it is more negative than both the reduction potential of water and the EMF of 2.21 V. As a result, lithium would react with the water in an aqueous electrolyte, either by oxidizing to Li+ or by reducing water to hydrogen gas, leading to undesirable reactions.

Step 2

Use data in Table 9 to calculate the cell EMF of a standard lithium-iodine cell.

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Answer

To calculate the cell EMF, we find the reaction of lithium and iodine. Considering the standard potentials, we can add lithium’s E° value and the E° for reduction of iodine. The EMF of the cell can be calculated as follows:

Ecell=E°(Li+/Li)+E°(I2/I)E_{cell} = E°(Li^+/Li) + E°(I_2/I^-)

Thus:

Ecell=(3.04extV)+(0.54extV)=2.50extVE_{cell} = (-3.04 ext{ V}) + (0.54 ext{ V}) = -2.50 ext{ V}

Step 3

Suggest why this value is different from the value calculated in Question 0 9.2.

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Answer

The discrepancy between the calculated EMF value of -2.50 V and the commercial EMF of 2.80 V could be attributed to non-standard conditions such as concentration, temperature, or the presence of stabilizing agents in the commercial cell that enhance the overall voltage produced.

Step 4

Deduce the oxidation state of chlorine in LiClO4.

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Answer

In lithium perchlorate (LiClO4), lithium has a +1 oxidation state. The overall charge of the molecule is neutral, thus the oxidation state of chlorine can be calculated by considering that the four oxygen atoms each have a -2 oxidation state. Therefore, the oxidation state of chlorine must be +7 to balance the overall charge:

+1+x+(4imes2)=0    x=+7+1 + x + (4 imes -2) = 0 \implies x = +7

Step 5

Give an equation for the reaction that occurs at the positive lithium cobalt oxide electrode.

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Answer

The reaction at the positive lithium cobalt oxide electrode can be represented as:

LiCoO2+Li++eLi2CoO2LiCoO_2 + Li^+ + e^- \rightarrow Li_2CoO_2

Step 6

Give an equation for the reaction that occurs at the negative lithium electrode.

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Answer

At the negative lithium electrode, the reduction reaction can be expressed as follows:

Li++eLi(s)Li^+ + e^- \rightarrow Li(s)

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