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Annex A - Group Research Proposal


Investigative Skills in Science
 Research Proposal Form

Project Title: Investigation of the Effect of Reactivity of metals affect the Redox Reaction of a Voltaic Cell

Class
S2-08
Group: 
E

SN
Name of student
Email 
1
Ethan Chew
chew_ming_hong_ethan@s2019.ssts.edu.sg
2
Sean Tang
sean_charleston_tang_tsz_him@s2019.ssts.edu.sg
3
NIL
NIL
________________________________________________________________________________
This is the link to our Group Research Proposal
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oXTKNTX4JTPS9RkoCzFFswwbWkCZMntZnBh1ZPU1tlY/edi
t?usp=sharing
________________________________________________________________________________


Type of research:

Test a hypothesis: Hypothesis-driven research
X
Measure a value: Experimental research (I)
Investigation of the Effect of Reactivity of metals affect the Redox Reaction of a Voltaic Cell

Measure a function or relationship: Experimental research (II)

Construct a model: Theoretical sciences and applied mathematics

Observational and exploratory research

_________________________________________________________________________

Research Plan

Project Title: Investigation of the Effect of Reactivity of metals affect the Redox Reaction of a Voltaic Cell

1. RATIONALE: 

The topic Group E is doing is about how different metals produce different amounts of voltage of electricity during an oxidation-reduction reaction. (Redox-Reaction) It requires two half-cells of beakers and a salt-bridge to connect both beakers. We will then put all metals and the metal's sulfate solution into two of the beakers. The controlled variable is copper, while the changed variables are Aluminium, Zinc, and Brass. 

We are doing this research as it is essential to educate people about the inner-workings of a battery, how it works, and what type of metal used will be best suited for the battery. 

The purpose of this investigation is to develop a better understanding of the processes occurring within a galvanic or voltaic cell. Galvanic cells are essential to our lives because they provide the foundation of generating an electric current spontaneously from a chemical reaction. Keep in mind that chemical reactions primarily occur because electrons are being lost by one chemical species and gained by another. If the transfer of electrons can be channelled through an electrical conductor such as a wire we have an opportunity to harness this electron flow. Such is the nature of the importance of a voltaic cell. (University of Manitoba, 2005)

Doing this experiment will allow people who are interested in electrochemistry to know how a battery works and why the redox-reaction process works and produce electricity. People will also understand the dangers of the battery and how dangerous are the substances inside the batteries are, while giving a better hands-on understanding on Redox-Reaction and how batteries are made and the materials that are inside the material. Small Children will also understand the dangers of batteries and how poisonous substances in the batteries are. This research can also benefit companies creating batteries or involved in the electronics industry as our research will show what is good or recommended two combinations of metals to be used in batteries to produce electricity through the process of Redox-Reaction. 

A Galvanic or Voltaic Cell is also advantageous as galvanic cells can be self-contained and portable, they can also be used as batteries and fuel cells. A battery (storage cell) is a galvanic cell (or a series of galvanic cells) that contains all the reactants needed to produce electricity. In contrast, a fuel cell is a galvanic cell that requires a constant external supply of one or more reactants to generate electricity. In this section, we describe the chemistry behind some of the more common types of batteries and fuel cells. (LibreTexts, 2016)

There are also many applications of a Galvanic or Voltaic Cell, such as the manufacturing of electrical batteries, torches, electrical appliances such as cellphones (long-life alkaline batteries), digital cameras (lithium batteries), hearing aids (silver-oxide batteries), digital watches (mercury/silver-oxide batteries), military applications (thermal batteries) and also essential industries such as chlorine-alkali (chloralkali) industry. The cells can also be used for electroplating. (Siyavula, Physical Sciences Grade 12)
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2. RESEARCH QUESTION(S):

2.1 Research question being addressed 

Investigation of how the reactivity of metals affect its redox reaction. 
(Voltaic cell) 

2.2 Hypotheses

If different types of metals are used with different reactivities is used during Redox-Reaction, 
Then the metal with the highest reactivity will produce the most electricity
Because the metal with the higher reactivity will lose the most electrons from redox-reaction, thus producing more electricity when more electrons travel.


2.2.1 Independent variable

The Independent Variable is a type of Metal and the type of Sulfate.

2.2.2 Dependent variable 

The Dependent Variable is the amount of electricity produced from Redox Reaction of two half-cells.

2.2.3 Controlled variables
Copper metal, Salt bridge, beakers, wire

2.3 How is this based on the rationale described above?

If my hypothesis is correct, the metal with the highest reactivity will produce the most electricity.
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3.    Method

3.1 Equipment list:


Equipment
Quantity
1 cm by 1 cm of copper (M1)
5
1 cm by 1 cm of zinc (M2)
2
  1 cm by 1 cm of aluminium (M3)
2
1 cm by 1 cm of magnesium (M4)
2
1 cm by 1 cm of nickel (M5)
2
1 M of copper sulfate solution (CuSO4)
5
1 M of zinc sulfate solution (ZnSO4)
2
1 M of aluminium solution [Al2(SO4)3]
2
1 M of magnesium sulfate solution (FeSO4)
2
1 M of nickel sulfate solution (NiSO4)
2
Beaker
2
Crocodile Clip Wire
1
10g Salt (Sodium Chloride)
1
10cm String
5
Vernier Voltage Probe
1
Vernier Computer Interface Logger Pro
1



3.2 Diagrams

Figure 1: Experimental setup
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3.3 Procedures: 

1.    Set up the experiment as shown in the diagram above.
 (DO NOT PUT THE METAL IN FIRST)
2.    Take copper, zinc, aluminium and brass. Sand both surfaces of each piece of metal/make sure all metals measure to be the same size. 
3.    Ensure that the concentration of sulfate is the same in both beakers.
4.    Use the Crocodile Clip and connect both metals together.
5.    Connect a probe in the centre of both connected metals.
6.    Put the salt bridge between the beakers.
7.    Put the metals into the beakers.
8.   Wait for the metals dissolve.
9.   Check and list the amount of voltage produced for each metal
10. List down the amount of electricity produced by all metals.
11. Repeat the Experiment 2 times.
12. Repeat the Experiment with a different metal but keep copper as a control.

3.4 Data Analysis: 
1.    Tabulate the data according to the data tables and find the reduction potential of each pairing of metals
2.    Plot a bar graph of the reduction potential of each pairing of metals
3.    From the graph, we can find out which pair of metal have the most effect of reactivity that will affect the Redox Reaction of a Voltaic Cell.
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4. Risk, Assessment and Management: 

Table 1: Risk Assessment and Management table 
Risk
Assessment
Management 
The metals used are poisonous. If there is contact with skin, irritation will occur.
High 
Students must wear gloves when carrying out the experiment. Students must not eat or drink during the experiment. Students must wash their hands before and after experimentation. 
Sulfate may spill on us
Low
Keep a safe distance away from experiment.
A chance that the breaker can break
Medium
Keep a close eye on the beaker, if it were to break, stay away from the shards and inform the lab technician
There is electricity in the experiment, there is a chance of a short circuit, causing a fire.
High
Keep a close eye on the setup, have a sand bucket close to the experiment incase it catches fire.
There is electricity in the experiment, if there is too much current flowing through the wire and we touches it, we may be electrocuted
High
Be careful when touching the experiment, cover metal surfaces such as wires with rubber.
Metals or metal shavings might be ingested accidentally
High
Food and drinks must not be consumed in the lab and shavings to be disposed of. If metal was to be ingested, inform the teacher immediately and stop all experiments
Legend 
Low
Unlikely and no severe harm 

Medium 
Likely but not severe OR Unlikely but severe 

High 
Likely and Severe harm 


The chemicals to be used are poisonous
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5. References: 

Book
·       OpenStax (2006). Chemistry. Texas. OpenTextBC  17.2 Galvanic Cells – Chemistry  


Newspaper Article
Jonathan L. Brosmer, Dennis G. Peters (March 23, 2012). Galvanic Cells and the determination of Equilibrium Constants.
Website
Singh, S. (6 June 2019) “Voltaic Cells”. LibreTexts. Retrieved date: 14 Jan 2020.

Youtube video 

Tyler, D [Tyler DeWitt]. (2015, August 15) Galvanic Cells (Voltaic Cells) Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b34XYgADlM&t=149s

Mike, J [Mike Sugiyama Jones]. (2014, Jan 14), 9.4.1 Explain how a redox reaction is used to produce electricity in a voltaic cell. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWMjIHkyKLk&t=1s
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6. Bibliography:

Book
OpenStax (2006). Chemistry. Texas. 17.2 Galvanic Cells – Chemistry        

University of Manitoba. Galvanic Cells. 2005. Applications Of Electrochemistry. 
Manitoba Canada.

Journal Article


Sulcius, A. (2014) Student Misconception in Studying “Galvanic Cell”. ____. 
Theodore L. (1978). An inexpensive voltaic cell, Journal of chemical education, 55, 1-69
Newspaper Article
Jonathan L. Brosmer, Dennis G. Peters (March 23, 2012). Galvanic Cells and the determination of Equilibrium Constants.
Website
Singh, S. (6 June 2019) “Voltaic Cells”. LibreTexts. Retrieved date: 14 Jan 2020.

Youtube video 

Tyler, D [Tyler DeWitt]. (2015, August 15) Galvanic Cells (Voltaic Cells) Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b34XYgADlM&t=149s

Mike, J [Mike Sugiyama Jones]. (2014, Jan 14), 9.4.1 Explain how a redox reaction is used to produce electricity in a voltaic cell. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWMjIHkyKLk&t=1s
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