A cell is assembled with a magnesium strip in 1.0 M MgCl₂ and a tin strip in 1.0 M SnCl₂

CHEMISTRY · Single correct · A Level · Chemistry · Electrode potentials · Electrode potentials

Problem

A cell is assembled with a magnesium strip in 1.0 M MgCl₂ and a tin strip in 1.0 M SnCl₂. After several minutes of spontaneous operation, gray metallic tin has built up on the tin strip, and the magnesium strip has noticeably thinned. Which statement best accounts for the observed electron flow in the external circuit? (a) Electrons travel from the tin electrode to the magnesium electrode because Sn2+\mathrm{Sn^{2+}} is reduced to Sn(s)\mathrm{Sn(s)}. (b) Electrons travel from the magnesium electrode to the tin electrode because the standard reduction potential for Mg2+/Mg\mathrm{Mg^{2+}/Mg} is higher than that for Sn2+/Sn\mathrm{Sn^{2+}/Sn}. (c) Electrons travel from the magnesium electrode to the tin electrode because Mg\mathrm{Mg} is oxidized to Mg2+\mathrm{Mg^{2+}}. (d) Electrons travel from the magnesium electrode to the tin electrode because Sn\mathrm{Sn} is oxidized to Sn2+\mathrm{Sn^{2+}}.

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