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NSC / Matric Electrochemical Reactions — practice questions

Explore 6 free Electrochemical Reactions questions in NSC / Matric Chemistry. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Electrochemical Reactions questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–6 of 6.

In a redox reaction, what happens to a species that is oxidised?Read the answer and worked solution →What is the key difference between a galvanic cell and an electrolytic cell?Read the answer and worked solution →At which electrode does reduction always take place?Read the answer and worked solution →A galvanic cell is built from one half cell of standard reduction potential minus 0.76 V and another of plus 0.34 V. What is the standard emf of the cell?Read the answer and worked solution →Sort each clue: galvanic or electrolyticRead the answer and worked solution →Tap the word that breaks the ruleRead the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

In a redox reaction, what happens to a species that is oxidised?

  1. It gains electrons
  2. It loses electrons
  3. It loses protons
  4. It gains protons
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Correct answer: B. It loses electrons

1. Oxidation and reduction always happen together, because electrons have to go somewhere. 2. Oxidation is the loss of electrons by a molecule, atom or ion. 3. Reduction is the gain of electrons by a molecule, atom or ion. 4. The species that loses electrons hands them to another species, so it acts as the reducing agent. _Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 13: Electrochemical reactions_

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What is the key difference between a galvanic cell and an electrolytic cell?

  1. One has electrodes, one does not
  2. One has a liquid, one does not
  3. One is spontaneous, one is not
  4. One has a metal, one does not
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Correct answer: C. One is spontaneous, one is not

1. Both cells are electrochemical cells and both transfer electrons at electrodes in an electrolyte. 2. A galvanic cell runs a spontaneous reaction and turns chemical energy into electrical energy. 3. An electrolytic cell is driven by an outside supply and forces a reaction that would not happen on its own. 4. So an electrolytic cell turns electrical energy into chemical energy instead. 5. Both kinds need electrodes and an electrolyte, so those options cannot separate them. _Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 13: Electrochemical reactions_

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At which electrode does reduction always take place?

  1. At the anode
  2. At both of them
  3. At neither one
  4. At the cathode
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Correct answer: D. At the cathode

1. Electrodes are named by the reaction that happens on them, not by their charge. 2. Reduction, the gain of electrons, always happens at the cathode. 3. Oxidation, the loss of electrons, always happens at the anode. 4. That naming holds for galvanic and for electrolytic cells alike. _Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 13: Electrochemical reactions_

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