Question: A battery is a chemical cell in which electrolysis occurs spontaneously. Faraday formed a battery from zinc (Zn) and platinum (Pt) electrodes immersed in a weak sulfuric acid solution (see Fig.). When the two electrodes were electrically connected, hydrogen gas evolved at the Pt electrode, and Zn dissolved from the Zn electrode. No gas was released at the Zn electrode. When the experiment was done, 205 cm3 of H2 had been collected, and 0.548 g of Zn had dissolved.
a. Faraday reported that, while the experiment was in progress, the ambient temperature and pressure were 52 ?F (11 ?C) and 29.2 inches Hg (29.9 inches Hg = 1 atm). Convert the volume of H2 gas collected to the volume of the same amount of gas at STP.
b. Find, from the numbers above, the atomic weight of Zn.
Fig. - In this chemical cell electrolysis occurs spontaneously when the switch is closed; it is a battery.