Electrochemical equivalent (ECE) is a concept in electrochemistry that refers to the mass of a substance produced or consumed at an electrode during electrolysis when a specific amount of electric charge passes through the electrolyte. It is an important parameter in understanding the quantitative relationships between electric charge and chemical change.
### Definition and Formula
The electrochemical equivalent of a substance can be defined using Faraday's laws of electrolysis. The first law states that the mass (\(m\)) of a substance deposited or dissolved at an electrode is directly proportional to the quantity of electric charge (\(Q\)) passed through the electrolyte:
\[
m = Z \cdot Q
\]
Where:
- \(m\) = mass of the substance (in grams)
- \(Q\) = electric charge (in coulombs)
- \(Z\) = electrochemical equivalent (in grams per coulomb)
### Units
- The unit of ECE is typically grams per coulomb (g/C), which indicates how many grams of a substance will be deposited or dissolved when one coulomb of electric charge is passed.
### Calculation of Electrochemical Equivalent
To calculate the electrochemical equivalent, you can use the following steps:
1. **Identify the Substance**: Determine the chemical involved in the electrolysis process.
2. **Determine the Valency**: Find the valency (\(n\)) of the substance. For instance, if you are working with copper ions (\(Cu^{2+}\)), the valency is 2.
3. **Molar Mass**: Find the molar mass (\(M\)) of the substance. For copper, \(M = 63.5 \, g/mol\).
4. **Use the Formula**: The electrochemical equivalent can be calculated using the formula:
\[
Z = \frac{M}{n \cdot F}
\]
Where:
- \(M\) = molar mass of the substance (g/mol)
- \(n\) = number of moles of electrons transferred per mole of substance (valency)
- \(F\) = Faraday's constant (\(F \approx 96500 \, C/mol\)), which is the charge of one mole of electrons.
### Example Calculation
Let's calculate the electrochemical equivalent of copper (\(Cu\)):
1. Molar mass of copper, \(M = 63.5 \, g/mol\)
2. Valency of copper, \(n = 2\) (since \(Cu^{2+}\) needs 2 electrons)
3. Using Faraday's constant, \(F = 96500 \, C/mol\)
Now, substituting these values into the formula:
\[
Z = \frac{63.5}{2 \times 96500} \approx 0.000329 \, g/C
\]
This means that approximately 0.000329 grams of copper will be deposited for every coulomb of charge passed.
### Applications
1. **Electroplating**: Understanding ECE helps in controlling the thickness of coatings applied during electroplating.
2. **Battery Technology**: It aids in calculating the amount of materials needed in batteries.
3. **Electrolysis Processes**: ECE is crucial in processes like electrolysis for separating elements or compounds.
### Conclusion
Electrochemical equivalent is a fundamental concept that bridges electrical and chemical phenomena, allowing for the quantitative analysis of reactions occurring during electrolysis. By knowing the electrochemical equivalent of a substance, one can accurately predict the mass of a material that will be produced or consumed in electrochemical processes, which has significant implications across various industries and applications.