1. The Electrochemical Series
Intermediate 2 Chemistry
Unit 3(c)

2. V
If you set up this experiment, what would happen?

3. V
Salt solution
What name is given to a solution like the one above?

4. A cell
The metal HIGHER in the electrochemical series LOSES electrons to the metal lower down.
ELECTRONS flow through the wires.
IONS flow through the solution to complete the circuit.
ELECTRONS V
IONS

5. The electrochemical series (ECS)
Electrons flow from one metal to another to create a voltage
Imagine you connect different metals to TIN...
Aluminium
Zinc
Iron
Tin
Lead Mg Cu Sn
1.2 V
-0.5 V
0 V

6. +ve – the metal is above the other metal in the ECS
-ve – the metal is below the other metal in the ECS
0 – the metal is the same as the other metal Mg Cu Sn
1.2 V
-0.5 V
0 V
large number – large gap between the metals in the ECS
small number – small gap between the metals in the ECS

7. Magnesium
Aluminium
Zinc
Iron
Tin
Lead
Copper
Above tin
Large gap
Below tin
Small gap

8. The problem...
You have a selection of different metals, but you don’t know what any of them are
By connecting them together in cells:
rank them according to their position in the ECS
suggest what metal each one actually is
*Tip – the metal you start with (and are comparing to) should always be connected to the +ve terminal of the voltmeter

9. Half cells