Electrochemistry Help Please?

Question

In electrochemistry and galvanic cells,

would the concentration affect voltage.

for example would a reaction involving 2M CuSo4 have a higher voltage then a reaction involving 1M CuSo4 (assuming the other half cell remains the same) ?

THANKS HEAPS

Answer 1

Using a higher concentration of the solution would tend to shift the equilibrium

Cu(s) <=> Cu2+(aq) + 2e

to the left and so fewer electrons would be released and so the electrode would be less negative.

Whether the overall potential would increase or decrease, it would depend whether it was 'paired' with a more or less reactive metal.  If it was paired with, say, a Zn/Zn2+ half-cell, the overall voltage would increase; but with, say, an Ag/Ag+ half-cell, the overall voltage would decrease.

Edit:  So this also answers the second question ... within reason, increasing the CuSO4 concentration will slightly increase the overall potential.  But, given it's a logarithmic relationship, it won't be by much.