STUDYFORGE
Exam-focused study notes for CAPS learners
GRADE 12 | PHYSICAL SCIENCES | PAPER 2 (CHEMISTRY)
Galvanic
Cells
Electrochemical Reactions
Redox · cell processes · cell notation · electrode potentials · exam frameworks
Read > Understand > Revise > Apply > Answer
Aligned to the DBE Grade 12 Physical Sciences Examination Guidelines (2021).
Uses the Paper 2 data sheet and Table of Standard Reduction Potentials.
, STUDYFORGE Grade 12 Physical Sciences | Paper 2 Chemistry | Galvanic Cells
Contents
1 Scope: what CAPS expects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 Redox essentials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3 The galvanic cell: parts and functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
4 What happens in a working cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
5 Predicting anode and cathode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6 Cell notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7 Standard electrode potentials and the SHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
8 Calculating E°cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
9 Vcell, current and equilibrium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
10 Galvanic vs electrolytic cells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
11 Command words and answer formulas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
12 How Paper 2 marks are awarded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
13 Common mistakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
14 How this topic is examined and exam strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
15 Topic summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1 Scope: what CAPS expects
The 2021 Examination Guidelines list four blocks of content under Galvanic cells. Everything in these notes maps to
one of them. Electrolytic cells are the other half of Electrochemical Reactions and are not covered here (Section 9 gives
a quick comparison so you never mix the two up).
Block The learner must be able to (from the guidelines)
A. Basics Define galvanic cell, oxidation, reduction, oxidising agent, reducing agent, anode, cathode,
electrolyte.
B. Vcell and Relate Vcell and current to rate and equilibrium. Qualitative only: the Nernst equation is NOT
equilibrium required.
C. Processes in a cell Describe ion movement, state electron-flow direction, write half-reactions, state the salt bridge
function, use cell notation or diagrams, predict oxidation and reduction half-cells, write the
overall reaction, calculate E°cell, use a positive E°cell as a sign of spontaneity.
D. Standard State the standard conditions, describe the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) and its role as
electrode potentials reference, explain how E° values are determined and the sign convention.
PAPER 2 AT A GLANCE
Paper 2 format: 10 multiple-choice questions (20 marks) plus structured questions (130 marks), 3 hours, 150 marks. The
guidelines give Chemistry marks per content area (Chemical change 92, Matter and materials 58) but not a mark value
for this topic. Question numbers change from paper to paper, so always work from the question wording and the mark
allocation.
Connections to other topics. Vcell is an emf-type potential difference (link to Electric Circuits in Paper 1). Current depends on the
rate of the reaction (Rate and Extent of Reaction). A cell that goes "flat" has reached chemical equilibrium (Chemical Equilibrium).
Based on the DBE 2021 Examination Guidelines. Always check the mark allocation and your own paper. 2
Exam-focused study notes for CAPS learners
GRADE 12 | PHYSICAL SCIENCES | PAPER 2 (CHEMISTRY)
Galvanic
Cells
Electrochemical Reactions
Redox · cell processes · cell notation · electrode potentials · exam frameworks
Read > Understand > Revise > Apply > Answer
Aligned to the DBE Grade 12 Physical Sciences Examination Guidelines (2021).
Uses the Paper 2 data sheet and Table of Standard Reduction Potentials.
, STUDYFORGE Grade 12 Physical Sciences | Paper 2 Chemistry | Galvanic Cells
Contents
1 Scope: what CAPS expects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 Redox essentials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3 The galvanic cell: parts and functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
4 What happens in a working cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
5 Predicting anode and cathode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6 Cell notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7 Standard electrode potentials and the SHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
8 Calculating E°cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
9 Vcell, current and equilibrium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
10 Galvanic vs electrolytic cells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
11 Command words and answer formulas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
12 How Paper 2 marks are awarded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
13 Common mistakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
14 How this topic is examined and exam strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
15 Topic summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1 Scope: what CAPS expects
The 2021 Examination Guidelines list four blocks of content under Galvanic cells. Everything in these notes maps to
one of them. Electrolytic cells are the other half of Electrochemical Reactions and are not covered here (Section 9 gives
a quick comparison so you never mix the two up).
Block The learner must be able to (from the guidelines)
A. Basics Define galvanic cell, oxidation, reduction, oxidising agent, reducing agent, anode, cathode,
electrolyte.
B. Vcell and Relate Vcell and current to rate and equilibrium. Qualitative only: the Nernst equation is NOT
equilibrium required.
C. Processes in a cell Describe ion movement, state electron-flow direction, write half-reactions, state the salt bridge
function, use cell notation or diagrams, predict oxidation and reduction half-cells, write the
overall reaction, calculate E°cell, use a positive E°cell as a sign of spontaneity.
D. Standard State the standard conditions, describe the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) and its role as
electrode potentials reference, explain how E° values are determined and the sign convention.
PAPER 2 AT A GLANCE
Paper 2 format: 10 multiple-choice questions (20 marks) plus structured questions (130 marks), 3 hours, 150 marks. The
guidelines give Chemistry marks per content area (Chemical change 92, Matter and materials 58) but not a mark value
for this topic. Question numbers change from paper to paper, so always work from the question wording and the mark
allocation.
Connections to other topics. Vcell is an emf-type potential difference (link to Electric Circuits in Paper 1). Current depends on the
rate of the reaction (Rate and Extent of Reaction). A cell that goes "flat" has reached chemical equilibrium (Chemical Equilibrium).
Based on the DBE 2021 Examination Guidelines. Always check the mark allocation and your own paper. 2
