Bunsen cell

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File:Bunsen cell.jpg
Bunsen's cell

The Bunsen cell is a zinc-carbon primary cell (colloquially called a "battery") composed of a zinc anode in dilute sulfuric acid separated by a porous pot from a carbon cathode in nitric or chromic acid.

Cell details

The Bunsen cell generates about 1.9 volts which arises from the following reaction:[1]

Zn + H2SO4 + 2 HNO3 Template:Eqm ZnSO4 + 2 H2O + 2 NO2(g)

According to the reaction above, when 1 mole (or part) each of zinc and sulfuric acid react with 2 moles (or parts) of nitric acid, the resultant products formed are, 1 mole (or part) of zinc sulfate and 2 moles (or parts) each of water and nitrogen dioxide (gaseous, in the form of bubbles).Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The cell is named after its inventor, German chemist Robert Wilhelm Bunsen, who improved upon the Grove cell by replacing Grove's expensive platinum cathode with carbon in the form of pulverized coal and coke. Like Grove's battery, Bunsen's emitted noxious fumes of nitrogen dioxide.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Bunsen used this cell to extract metals. Henri Moissan used a stack of 90 cells for the electrolysis of hydrogen fluoride to obtain fluorine for the first time.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

See also

References

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Further reading

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External links

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