Practice question
Question
A mercury cell produces 0.5 g of Hg (atomic mass 200 g/mol) at the cathode. What mass of Zn (atomic mass 68 g/mol) is oxidized at the anode? (F = 96500 C/mol)
Explanation
Cathode: HgO + H₂O + 2e⁻ → Hg + 2OH⁻ , Moles = (0.5/200) = 0.0025 mol , Charge = 0.0025 × 2 × 96500 = 482.5 C . Anode: Zn → Zn²⁺ + 2e⁻ , Moles Zn = 0.0025 mol , Mass = 0.0025 × 68 = 0.17 g .