Answers

Frequently asked and important

questions in Final Exams
Electro Analytical Methods

Collected by Mohamed Fagry

 Final Exams Electro Analytical Methods

Choose the correct answer:

1. __________ is the potential developing across a conductive membrane

whose opposite sides are in contact with solutions of the same
composition.
(a) Cell potential. (c) Membrane potential.
(b) Asymmetric potential. (d) Electrode potential.

2. The single junction electrode was inserted into outer tube containing a
different electrolyte to produce __________ electrode.
(a) Reference. (c) Double junction.
(b) Indicator. (d) Single junction.

3. In the __________ methods the current that flows as a result of a constant

applied potential is measured.
(a) Amperometric. (c) Polarographic.
(b) Voltametric. (d) Conductimetric

4. __________ is a current that is proportional with analyte concentration

and can be used for quantitative analysis.
(a) Limiting current. (c) Diffusion current.
(b) Residual current. (d) Adsorption current.

5. If electrolysis is done for two half cells one containing Cu²⁺ and the other
containing and Cd²⁺ ions (the Cu²⁺ ion E⁰ = +0.337 V) (the cadmium
E⁰ = -0.40 V), the Cu will be _____________________.
(a) Reference. (c) Cathode.
(b) Indicator. (d) Anode.

6. ------------------------------- electrode is a metallic electrode whose potential

is a function of the concentration of X in an MXn/M redox half-reaction.
(a) Reference. (c) Second kind.
(b) First kind. (d) Redox electrode.

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 Final Exams Electro Analytical Methods

Differentiate between:
(a) Voltammetry and amperometry.
Answer
Voltammetry Amperometry
Measures the current that flows Measures the current that flows when
when a variable Potential is applied a constant potential is applied to an
to an electrode. electrode.

(b) Residual current, limiting current and diffusion current.

Answer
Current Type Definition
Diffusion Current The current produced due to oxidation and reduction.

The small current that flows in the absence of analyte

Residual Current
(includes impurities and background noise).

Is the max current which result from the diffusion and

Limiting Current residual (the total current).
Limiting current = Diffusion current + Residual current

(c) Indicator electrode, reference electrode and combination electrode.

Answer
Electrode Definition
Is an electrode its potential varies as a function of
Indicator electrode
analyte concentration.
Is an electrode with a constant potential (not varies
Reference electrode
with analyte concentration).
Combination electrode Electrode contain indicator and reference electrodes

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 Final Exams Electro Analytical Methods

Explain with drawing: (answer four items only)

(a) The glass electrode.

Answer

• An ion-selective electrode based on a glass membrane.

• Made of 22% Na2O, 6% CaO, and 72% SiO2.
• Selective to hydrogen ions (H⁺), allowing the determination of pH in
solutions.
• Hydrogen ions from the solution diffuse into the membrane and displace
sodium ions, forming inner and outer hydrated layers that produce
potential.
• Perform internal calibration using two or three buffer solutions, such as pH
2, pH 7, and pH 10.
• Then take ΔE values from these buffer solutions & analyte and extrapolate
to find the pH of the analyte.
• Storage solution of glass electrode in buffer solution has pH=4 or in KCl 4M
to prevent cracking of hydrated layer → stable pH measure.

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 Final Exams Electro Analytical Methods

(b) Calibration curve and standard addition method for determination of

unknown sample.
Answer
Calibration curve method Standard addition method
Measure sample (unknown
Measure sample (unknown
concentration) alone, then add
concentration) & Standard (known
Standard (known concentration) to
concentration) separated.
sample and measure together.
Use when complete composition of Use when don’t know complete
sample. composition of sample.

(c) The accuracy and precision of analytical measurement.

Answer
Accuracy Precision
Closeness of measuring value to true Closeness of set of value to each
value other

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 Final Exams Electro Analytical Methods

(d) The determination method of the selectivity coefficient.

Answer
Using Fixed interferant method

• Prepare a series of solutions where each contains a constant concentration

of an interferent [I] and different concentrations of the analyte [A].

• KA,I values:
1. KA, I >>>1 → non-selective for analyte Log[A]
(selective to interferant).
2. KA, I =1 → non-selective electrode.
3. KA, I <<<1 → selective for analyte.

(e) Ca²⁺ -based ion-selective electrode.

Answer
• Type of ion-selective electrode based
on liquid.
• uses a porous plastic membrane
hydrophobic plastic membrane
saturated with complexing agent
(di-(n-decyl) phosphate
(2(C10H21O)2PO2–)).

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 Final Exams Electro Analytical Methods

Questions:

1. A solution of (10⁻³ M) Cr₂O₇²⁻ and (10⁻² M) Cr²⁺ and the solution pH = 2.

Calculate the electrode potential at 298 K, if you know that (E⁰ = 1.33 V),
(RT/F = 0.0591), the cell reaction is:
Cr₂O₇²⁻ + 14 H⁺ + 6 e⁻ 2 Cr²⁺ + 7 H₂O

Answer

2. If you know that 0.01 M Calcium ion can produce 100 mV potential by
using sodium selective electrode and to produce the same potential, you
need 0.1 M sodium ion solution calculate the selectivity coefficient of this
electrode and mention the ion that this electrode is more selective for.

Answer

[𝐀] 𝟎. 𝟏
𝐊 𝐀,𝐈 = 𝐙𝐀
= 𝟏ൗ
=𝟏
൘
[𝐈] 𝐙𝐈 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝟐
⸫ This electrode is selective to both calcium and sodium.

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 Final Exams Electro Analytical Methods

3. Calculate the cell voltage and write the overall reaction for a cell
consisting of two halves:
Fe³⁺ + e⁻ → Fe²⁺ (E⁰ = 0.771 V)
I₃⁻ + 2 e⁻ → 3 I⁻ (E⁰ = 0.5355 V)

Answer

or

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 Midterm Exams Electro Analytical Methods

Choose the correct answer:

1. Reference electrode is an electrode with a constant and well-known

concentration
a) True b) False
2. The use of double junction electrode is better than the use of single
junction electrode generally
a) True b) False

3. In standard addition method, the same volume of the standard will be

taken, and different volumes of the sample will be added so different
standard concentrations will be prepared. Then the curve is drawn.
a) True b) False

4. As the metal ion has more positive standard reduction potential, it will be
reduced easier than that has less positive or more negative reduction
potential.
a) True b) False

5. Combined electrode is an electrode that contains two electrodes in the

same set.
a) True b) False

6. The filling solution in membrane electrode should be different from the

sample to eliminate the interference.
a) True b) False

7. A metallic electrode potential is a potential developing across a conductive

membrane whose opposite sides are in contact with solutions of different
composition.
a) True b) False
8. The potential of the metallic electrode in a potentiometric electrochemical
cell is proportional to the concentration of analyte that reacts with its
active sites.
a) False b) True

9. This method can be very useful if the complete composition of the sample
is known
a) Sample subtraction method c) Calibration curve method
b) Standard addition method d) Sample addition

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 Midterm Exams Electro Analytical Methods

10.If electrolysis is done for two half cells, one containing Cu²⁺ and the other
containing Cd²⁺ ions (the Cu²⁺ ion E° = +0.337 V) (the cadmium
E° = -0.40 V), the Cu will be
a) Anode c) Reference
b) Cathode d) Indicator

11.………………….. is dynamic electroanalytical method

a) Conductimetry c) Voltammetry
b) Potentiometry d) Volumetry
12.…………………… is a general method for determining the concentration
of a substance in an unknown sample by comparing the unknown to a set
of standard samples of known concentration
a) Sample subtraction method c) Calibration curve method
b) Standard addition method d) Single point calibration

13.Consider the following reaction in a galvanic cell:

Zn (s) + Cu²⁺(aq) → Zn²⁺(aq) + Cu (s).
Given the standard reduction potentials E°Zn²⁺/Zn = -0.76 V,
E° Cu²⁺/Cu = +0.34 V. If the concentration of Cu²⁺ is 0.10 M and the
concentration of Zn²⁺ is 1.0 M, calculate the cell potential at these
concentrations using the Nernst equation.
a) 1 V b) 1 mV c) 1.07 V d) 1.07 mV
14.The filling solution of double junction reference electrode that is used for
the determination of Na ions may be
a) 0.1 M Na⁺ b) 3 M Na⁺ c) 3 M HCl d) 3 M KCl
15.The liquid junction potential for a salt bridge filled with HCl is
____________. The liquid junction potential for a salt bridge filled with
KCl is
a) Larger than c) The same
b) Lower than d) Half

16.………………. It is Closeness of the measurements to a specific value or

the difference between the measured value to the true value.
a) Uncertainty c) Accuracy
b) Measurement percent d) Precision
17.………………. is interfacial electroanalytical method
a) Conductimetry c) Voltammetry
b) Potentiometry d) Volumetry

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 Midterm Exams Electro Analytical Methods

18.If you know that an electrochemical cell is consists of Ag/AgCl electrode

and silver silver iodide electrode of the second kind how will this cell be
represented if you know that:
AgCl (S) + e⁻ = Ag (S) + Cl⁻ E₀ = +0.2046 V
Ag⁺ + e⁻ = Ag (S) E₀ = +0.799 V
a) Ag(s) | AgI (sat’d), I⁻ (3M) // KCl (Satd), AgCl (Satd) / Ag
b) Ag/AgCl(Satd), KCl (Satd) || AgI (sat’d), I⁻ (unk) | Ag(s)
c) Ag/AgCl(Satd), KCl (Satd) || AgI (sat’d), I⁻ (3M) | Ag(s)
d) Ag(s) | AgI (sat’d), I⁻ (unk) // KCl (Satd), AgCl (Satd) / Ag
19.The potential of potassium ion selective electrode is filling solution 0.1 M
KNO3, and the analyte is 0.1 M KNO3 equal to:
a) zero c) K + Elj
b) K + E₀ d) K + Eassymetry

20.The filling solution of double junction electrode that is used for the
determination of Ag ions may be:
a) 0.1 M Ag⁺ b) 3 M Ag⁺ c) 3 M KCl d) 3 M KNO₃

21.If you know that 0.01 M of Calcium ion can produce 100 mV potential by
using sodium selective electrode and to produce the same potential you
need 0.1 M sodium ion solution, calculate the selectivity coefficient of this
electrode.
a) 0.1 b) 10 c) 1 d) 1000

22.If you know that 0.01 M of Calcium ion can produce 100 mV potential by
using sodium selective electrode and to produce the same potential you
need 0.1 M sodium ion solution, this electrode is more selective for:
a) Sodium c) Calcium
b) Hydrogen d) Both calcium and sodium
23.If you know that the selectivity coefficient of sodium over potassium ion
is 0.001, so the electrode is selective to:
a) Non c) Both of them
b) Potassium d) Sodium
24.If you know that the selectivity coefficient of sodium over potassium ion
is 1.5, so the electrode is selective to:
a) Non c) Sodium
b) Potassium
d) Both of them

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