Chemistry Electrochemistry ETEA 2019
PMDC Verified Question 53 of 73
When zinc electrode is coupled with copper electrode in a galvanic cell:
A
Reduction takes place at zinc electrode
B
Oxidation takes place at copper electrode
C
Reduction takes place at copper electrode
D
Both A and B
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option C: Reduction takes place at copper electrode
Concept:

In a galvanic cell, oxidation always occurs at the anode and reduction always occurs at the cathode.

Solution:

  • Zinc has a lower reduction potential (\( -0.76 \text{ V} \)) and therefore a higher tendency to lose electrons compared to Copper.


  • Zinc acts as the anode, undergoing oxidation (\( Zn \rightarrow Zn^{+2} + 2e^- \)).


  • Copper has a higher reduction potential (\( +0.34 \text{ V} \)) and therefore acts as the cathode.


  • At the Copper electrode, reduction takes place (\( Cu^{+2} + 2e^- \rightarrow Cu \)).


Why other options are incorrect:

Reduction does not occur at the Zinc electrode; oxidation does. Oxidation does not occur at the Copper electrode; reduction does.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

Previous Question All Electrochemistry MCQs Next Question

Want to solve full-length papers under timed exam conditions?

Practice with zero-scroll lockdown sprints, dynamic latency zone timers, live peer selection telemetry, and the automated Amber mistake recovery loop.

Enter Arena Sprint iOS App Android App