Question

Which balanced redox reaction is occurring in the voltaic cell represented by the notation of A l ( s ) | A l 3 ( a q ) | | P b 2 ( a q ) | P b ( s ) Al(s)|AlX3 (aq)||PbX2 (aq)|Pb(s)

Answer 1

The question is missing. Here is the complete question.

Which balanced redox reaction is ocurring in the voltaic cell represented by the notation of $Al_{(s)}|Al^{3+}_{(aq)}||Pb^{2+}_{(aq)}|Pb_{(s)}$?

(a) $Al_{(s)}+Pb^{2+}_{(aq)} ->Al^{3+}_{(aq)}+Pb_{(s)}$

(b) $2Al^{3+}_{(aq)}+3Pb_{(s)} -> 2Al_{(s)}+3Pb^{2+}_{(aq)}$

(c)$Al^{3+}_{(aq)}+Pb_{(s)} ->Al_{(s)}+Pb^{2+}_{(aq)}$

(d) $2Al_{(s)}+3Pb^{2+}_{(aq)} -> 2Al^{3+}_{(aq)}+3Pb_{(s)}$

Answer: (d) $2Al_{(s)}+3Pb^{2+}_{(aq)} -> 2Al^{3+}_{(aq)}+3Pb_{(s)}$

Explanation: Redox Reaction is an oxidation-reduction reaction that happens in the reagents. In this type of reaction, reagent changes its oxidation state: when it loses an electron, oxidation state increases, so it is oxidized; when receives an electron, oxidation state decreases, then it is reduced.

Redox reactions can be represented in shorthand form called cell notation, formed by: left side of the salt bridge (||), which is always the anode, i.e., its half-equation is as an oxidation and right side, which is always the cathode, i.e., its half-equation is always a reduction.

For the cell notation: $Al_{(s)}|Al^{3+}_{(aq)}||Pb^{2+}_{(aq)}|Pb_{(s)}$

Aluminum's half-equation is oxidation:

$Al_{(s)} -> Al^{3+}_{(aq)}+3e^{-}$

For Lead, half-equation is reduction:

$Pb^{2+}_{(aq)}+2e^{-} -> Pb_{(s)}$

Multiply first half-equation for 2 and second half-equation by 3:

$2Al_{(s)} -> 2Al^{3+}_{(aq)}+6e^{-}$

$3Pb^{2+}_{(aq)}+6e^{-} -> 3Pb_{(s)}$

Adding them:

$2Al_{(s)}+3Pb^{2+}_{(aq)} -> 2Al^{3+}_{(aq)}+3Pb_{(s)}$

The balanced redox reaction with cell notation $Al_{(s)}|Al^{3+}_{(aq)}||Pb^{2+}_{(aq)}|Pb_{(s)}$ is

$2Al_{(s)}+3Pb^{2+}_{(aq)} -> 2Al^{3+}_{(aq)}+3Pb_{(s)}$