The electrochemical equivalent of Faraday's law of electrolysis is a concept that quantifies the relationship between the amount of substance transformed during electrolysis and the quantity of electric charge used. It essentially helps in determining how much of a substance is deposited or dissolved in an electrolytic process based on the electric charge passed through the electrolyte.
Here’s a breakdown of the concept:
### Faraday’s Laws of Electrolysis
1. **First Law**: The mass of a substance altered at an electrode during electrolysis is directly proportional to the quantity of electric charge passed through the electrolyte.
Mathematically:
\[
m = k \cdot Q
\]
where \( m \) is the mass of the substance altered, \( Q \) is the electric charge, and \( k \) is a proportionality constant.
2. **Second Law**: The mass of a substance altered at an electrode during electrolysis is proportional to its equivalent weight and the quantity of electric charge passed through the electrolyte.
### Electrochemical Equivalent
The electrochemical equivalent (E) of a substance is the mass of the substance deposited or dissolved when an electric charge of 1 coulomb passes through the electrolyte. It is a measure that connects the amount of substance changed to the amount of electric charge used.
The relationship can be expressed as:
\[
E = \frac{m}{Q}
\]
where \( E \) is the electrochemical equivalent, \( m \) is the mass of the substance deposited or dissolved, and \( Q \) is the quantity of electric charge.
### Calculating Electrochemical Equivalent
To calculate the electrochemical equivalent of a substance, you use Faraday’s law, considering the molar mass (M) of the substance and the number of electrons (n) involved in the electrochemical reaction. The formula is:
\[
E = \frac{M}{n \cdot F}
\]
where:
- \( M \) is the molar mass of the substance.
- \( n \) is the number of electrons involved in the reaction.
- \( F \) is Faraday's constant (approximately 96485 C/mol).
### Practical Example
For instance, in electroplating, if you know the electrochemical equivalent of the metal being deposited, you can calculate how much metal will be deposited for a given charge. If the electrochemical equivalent of a metal is known to be 0.01 grams per coulomb, and you pass 10 coulombs of charge through the electrolyte, then:
\[
m = E \cdot Q = 0.01 \, \text{g/C} \cdot 10 \, \text{C} = 0.1 \, \text{g}
\]
Thus, 0.1 grams of metal will be deposited.
In summary, the electrochemical equivalent provides a direct way to link the mass of a substance altered during electrolysis with the quantity of charge used, making it a crucial concept in electrochemistry and practical applications like electroplating and battery technology.