A tin-plating facility operates a cell that electrodesposits tin onto steel sheets…
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · AP · Chemistry · Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry · Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry
Problem
A tin-plating facility operates a cell that electrodesposits tin onto steel sheets from an aqueous SnClᵧ solution of unknown composition. To check process control, quality-assurance technicians run a test in which they pass a steady current of 0.600 A through a sample plating bath for 10.0 min. After that time, the mass of tin deposited on the steel test coupon is 0.118 g. The atomic molar mass of Sn is 118.7 g mol⁻¹.
Assume standard laboratory conditions, and neglect any competing side reactions.
(a) Calculate the total electrical charge that flowed through the plating bath during the 10.0 min test.
(b) Determine the number of moles of tin that plated onto the test coupon.
(c) Using your answers to parts (a) and (b), calculate the integer value of y in the formula SnClᵧ of the tin cation present in the bath.
(d) Write the balanced cathode half-reaction for the reduction of the tin cation identified in part (c).