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CHM2001 Interactive Lessons
CHM2001 – Dynamic Electrochemistry
Interactive lessons to support your learning in equilibrium and dynamic electrochemistry
These lessons accompany the CHM2001 electrochemistry lectures, in three blocks of two lectures. In each block, the interactive models let you explore the ideas from the lectures and test your understanding; the practice page then examines both lectures with calculations, feedback and worked solutions.
Lectures 1–2: Electrochemical Thermodynamics
Lesson 1: Electrochemical Cells and Standard Potentials
Build a cell from two half-cells and see where its voltage comes from in the electrochemical series; swap the half-cells to move between galvanic and electrolytic cells, and relate E°cell to ΔG°. Six problems set in real situations follow.
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Lesson 2: The Nernst Equation: Concentration and Equilibrium
Predict how concentration changes move the voltage of a Daniell cell, then watch it happen; follow a cell towards equilibrium, where Ecell = 0 and Q = K. Six problems follow, including concentration cells and a flat battery.
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Lesson 3: Electrochemical Cells and the Nernst Equation: Practice
Ten problems covering both lectures, in different formats: anodes and cathodes, cell notation, the lithium-ion and alkaline batteries, spotting mistakes, reading a Nernst plot and working backwards from a discharged cell. Answers are checked as you go and progress is saved.
Start Lesson →Lectures 3–4: Electrochemical Kinetics
Lesson 4: The Fermi Level and Electrode Potential
Predict which way electrons will cross as the potential of an electrode changes, then watch its Fermi level move past the energy level of a redox couple; change the couple and its concentration. Six problems follow on the Fermi level, Eeq and overpotential.
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Lesson 5: Electrolytic Cells: Driving a Reaction with an Applied Voltage
Connect a power supply to a Daniell cell and watch the Fermi levels of the two electrodes move: below 1.10 V the cell discharges, above it the supply lifts electrons uphill and recharges it. Then find the voltage needed to split water. Six problems follow.
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Lesson 6: Current, Charge and Overpotential
Watch an electrode dissolve as current flows and relate the charge to the mass of metal (Faraday); then see oxidation and reduction running in opposite directions and how the overpotential tips the balance, exponentially. Six problems follow.
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Lesson 7: Current, Electron Energy and Overpotential: Practice
Eleven problems covering Lectures 3 and 4: open and closed circuits, the charge in a phone battery, plating times, the Fermi level, overpotential from the Nernst equation, a multi-step zinc-plating problem and recharging a cell with a power supply. Answers are checked as you go and progress is saved.
Start Lesson →Lectures 5–6: Butler–Volmer Kinetics and Catalysis
Lesson 8: The Butler–Volmer Equation: Energy Barriers and Exchange Current
Tilt the energy profile of an electrode reaction with the overpotential and watch one barrier fall as the other rises; then compare the Butler–Volmer curves of aluminium, zinc, copper and silver to see why some metals are much harder to plate. Six problems follow, including the lecture's silver-plating example.
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Lesson 9: The Tafel Equation: When the Reverse Reaction Can Be Ignored
Watch the reverse reaction fade as the overpotential grows, until the Butler–Volmer equation reduces to the Tafel equation; then read the Tafel slope and the exchange current density from a Tafel plot. Six problems follow.
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Lesson 10: Catalytic Electrodes: Making Hydrogen by Electrolysis
Compare platinum, copper and lead as catalysts for hydrogen evolution, then build a water electrolyser: choose the cathode and anode, set the current and find the voltage needed. Six problems follow, including the NRR and CO2 reduction catalysts from the lecture.
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Lesson 11: Energy Barriers, Butler–Volmer Kinetics and Catalytic Electrodes: Practice
Eleven problems covering Lectures 5 and 6: the current sign convention, energy barriers, silver plating, the hardest metal to plate, hydrogen on platinum and lead, splitting water, turning CO2 into fuel and reading a Tafel plot. Answers are checked as you go and progress is saved.
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