Understanding Electrochemical Thermodynamics through Entropy Analysis

This discovery-based activity involves entropy analysis of galvanic cells. The intent of the activity is for students to discover the fundamentals of electrochemical cells through a combination of entropy analysis, exploration, and guided discovery. The student is guided into discovering (i) two fundamental quantities that determine the theoretical electrical potential of any galvanic cell, and n, and (ii) the numerical value for the Faraday constant. Then the student makes predictions and tests them experimentally.