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Electrochemistry

Class 12

13 previous-year questions from this chapter every option and the correct answer, free · where the marks are

1. Electrochemical cells and Nernst equation

Exam focus: At equilibrium, E(cell) = 0, not E°(cell) = 0 — that's the condition linking E°(cell) to K through 0 = E° − (0.0591/n)log K. In the standard cell notation, oxidation (anode) is written on the left and reduction (cathode) on the right — reverse that and every EMF you calculate flips sign.

Nernst Equation and Electrochemical Cells

Physics Wallah - Alakh Pandey

Covers electrode potential, EMF of cells and the Nernst equation directly.

2. Conductance and Kohlrausch's law

Exam focus: A weak electrolyte's molar conductivity shoots up sharply on extreme dilution and its plot doesn't extrapolate to a finite value the way a strong electrolyte's does — which is exactly why the weak electrolyte's limiting molar conductivity is obtained indirectly, via Kohlrausch's law of independent migration of ions, never by extrapolating its own graph.

Conductance and Kohlrausch's Law

Physics Wallah - Alakh Pandey

Covers molar conductivity variation with concentration and Kohlrausch's law; basic conductance/cell-constant introduction is in an earlier lecture of the same series.

3. Electrolysis and Faraday's laws; batteries and corrosion

Exam focus: In aqueous NaCl electrolysis, Cl⁻ is oxidised at the anode instead of water, even though water's thermodynamic oxidation potential is lower — a real overpotential effect examiners like precisely because it contradicts the "always predict from E° alone" shortcut. Faraday's second law compares deposits by equivalent mass, not molar mass, so equal charge deposits different moles of ions of different charge.

Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis

Physics Wallah - Alakh Pandey

Covers electrolysis and Faraday's laws thoroughly with solved problems; batteries and corrosion are covered in a separate, later lecture of the same series, not this one.