Chapter 19, Problem 19.24QP

Electrochemical Cells II

Consider this cell running under standard conditions:

$\text{Ni}(s)|{\text{Ni}}^{2-}(aq)||{\text{Cu}}^{+}(aq)|\text{Cu}(s)$

1. a Is this cell a voltaic or an electrolytic cell? How do you know?
2. b Does current flow in this cell spontaneously?
3. c What is the maximum cell potential for this cell?
4. d Say the cell is connected to a voltmeter. Describe what you might see for an initial voltage and what voltage changes, if any, you would observe as time went by.
5. e What is the free energy of this cell when it is first constructed?
6. f Does the free energy of the cell change over time as the cell runs? If so, how does it change?