Galvanic Cell Quick Question

[bob92]

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This one in from aamc 11 number 37. I got it right (V=IR and I understand this) but I am not sure why their reasoning for choice C is the way it is.

Here it is:
http://i.imgur.com/XqZYm.png

If one is to decrease the concentration of the solute the products of the oxidation that happens at the anode:

X(s) -----> Xn+ e-

Wouldn't La Chatlier's principle say that that since one is removing or lowering the concentration of the products side, the equation would shift towards, the right and thus more e- would be created? These e- would in turn create a higher Voltage and thus also increase the current?

 

[bored]

Here is the way I see it.

X (s) --> X+ + e-
and
Y+ + e- --> Y (s)

so yea if you lower x+ you will get more electrons but if you lower the y+, the equilibrium will want to move in the left direction for the bottom part and so less Y(s) is produced which means the electrons are not needed on the y(s) side so current will decrease.

I don't remember the nernest eqn but try some random values in and see what happens.

 

[bob92]

Oh, okay that actually makes a ton of sense 🙂

So the problem with the wording is that since both are increased current would be decreased as there are more electrons on both sides with very little care to move across the cells.

But if only one side was changed, the current would have increased as there are more electrons on the left cell than right and so they will travel to the other cell to make the solid product

 

[sciencebooks]

I'm not going to lie, I totally tried to scroll on that picture...