Question

Current passes through a solution of sodium chloride. In

$\mathbf{1}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{00}\mathbf{}\mathbf{s}\mathbf{,}\mathbf{2}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{68}\mathbf{\times }{\mathbf{10}}^{\mathbf{16}}{\mathbf{Na}}^{\mathbf{+}}$ions arrive at the negative electrode and$\mathbf{3}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{92}\mathbf{\times }{\mathbf{10}}^{\mathbf{16}}{\mathbf{CI}}^{\mathbf{-}}$

ions arrive at the positive electrode. (a) What is the current passing between

the electrodes? (b) What is the direction of the current?

Short answer

a) The current passing between the electrodes is .

b) The direction of current is towards the negative electrode.

Step-by-step solution

Define the current I .

The charge Q per unit time t is known as the currentI.

$I=\frac{Q}{t}$

Here, I is current in ampere $\left(\mathrm{A}\right)$, Q is charge in Columbus $\left(\mathrm{C}\right)$and is time in sec$\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$.

Determine the value of the current.

(a)

Determine the current between the electrodes as:

$$\begin{gathered} I=\frac{Q}{t} \\ =\frac{\left(\mathrm{number}\mathrm{of}{\mathrm{Na}}^{+}+\mathrm{number}\mathrm{of}{\mathrm{CI}}^{-}\right)\times \left|\mathrm{q}\right|}{\mathrm{t}} \\ =\frac{\left(2.68\times {10}^{16}+3.92\times {10}^{16}\right)\times \left|-1.6\times {10}^{-19}\right|}{1.00} \\ =10.56\mathrm{mA} \end{gathered}$$

Hence, current passing between the electrodes is $10.56\mathrm{mA}$and the direction of current is towards the negative electrode.

Determine the direction of current.

(b)

Since, the value of the current is positive so the charge flows from positive side to

the negative electrodes.