A galvanic cell is constructed at 298 K by combining a zinc electrode immersed in 1.0 M Zn2+(aq) with a copper electrode immersed in 1.0 M Cu2+(aq). Both solutions are initially at the same temperature and volume.
The two half-cells are then simultaneously diluted by adding an equal volume of distilled water to each compartment so that the concentrations of Zn2+ and Cu2+ both become 0.10 M while the amounts of solid metals remain large and unchanged.
(a) Describe qualitatively how the dilution changes the value of the reaction quotient Q for the overall cell reaction.
(b) Predict whether the instantaneous cell potential after dilution is greater than, less than, or equal to the original cell potential. Justify your answer in terms of the position of Q relative to the equilibrium constant K.