Question

1. what would happen to the the cell potential in a voltaic cell if the salt bridge lost contact with one of the solutions?

2. would a reaction occur if solid tin was placed in a solution of copper II nitrate? If so, write the balanced net ionic equation for the reaction.

Answer 1

1. The cell potential would drop to zero since the circuit has been broken.

2. Yes, Sn will displace Cu^2+.
Sn(s) + Cu^2+ ==> Sn(2^+) + Cu(s)

Here is the activity series.
https://www.google.com/search?q=activity+series&tbm=isch&imgil=COkl6kSFzOOkZM%253A%253BO97ZY4ZQ8eeUCM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Farchives.jesuitnola.org%25252Fupload%25252Fclark%25252FRefs%25252Fsolu_act.htm&source=iu&pf=m&fir=COkl6kSFzOOkZM%253A%252CO97ZY4ZQ8eeUCM%252C_&usg=__sGCXOYhWi1CGYCv55IB5bG69IkQ%3D&biw=1024&bih=609&dpr=1.25&ved=0CDQQyjc&ei=NZFbVfuON4uWNtTKgegI#imgrc=COkl6kSFzOOkZM%253A%3BO97ZY4ZQ8eeUCM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Farchives.jesuitnola.org%252Fupload%252Fclark%252FRefs%252Fact_series.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Farchives.jesuitnola.org%252Fupload%252Fclark%252FRefs%252Fsolu_act.htm%3B398%3B399

These are single replacement reactions. Any METAL will displace the ION of a metal below it in the activity series.
Note that Cu + Sn(NO3)2 ==> no reaction since Cu is BELOW Sn.

Answer 2

thank you