Chpt 20: Electrochemistry Flashcards
when balancing half rxns, what do you balance O with?
H2O
which has higher potential energy in it’s electrons: a cells anode or a cells cathode?
anode
e- will flow spontaneously form the anode to the cathode as a result
what is a joule the measure of?
energy
what is ‘reductant’ another name for?
reducing agent
what does volts/voltage represent?
the potential for a redox reaction to occur, especially in a cell
what is ‘electromotive force’ another word for?
potential difference
in an oxidation half reaction, are the electrons found as reactants or products?
products
what does an oxidation state communicate?
the status of electron exchange between species
what does the ‘potential difference’ in a cell describe?
The difference between an anode’s energy per electrical charge and that of a cathode/
what is a circuit?
a closed path that electricity can flow through
what is a volt?
the potential eneergy difference required to impart 1 Joule of energy to a charge of 1
in a reduction half reactions, are the electrons found in the reactants or the products?
reactants
what are the units for volts/voltage?
J/C
joules (energy) per Coulomb (charge)
when balancing ACIDIC redox half reactions, what do you balance H with?
H+
what are two other names for cell potential?
standard electromotive force
standard cell potential
what is a cell?
a device/system in which electricity flows from one region/component to another (usually through a wire) without direct contact
why is electromotive force so named?
because it is the force that causes electrons to move spontaneously through a cell
what are electrodes
points at/through which current leaves or enters a system
what is ‘oxidant’ another name for?
oxidizing agent (the thing that did the oxidizing in a redox rxn)
what are redox reactions?
reactions in which electrons are transferred from one species to another
what are the subunits for joules?
(kg x m^2)/s^2
when balancing BASIC redox half reactions, what do you balance H+ with?
OH- on both sides of the eqn
what is electricity?
energy associated with flow of electrons
true or false: the cell potential for voltaic cells is always positive under standard conditions?
true
when balancing BASIC redox half reactions, what do you balance H with?
H+
Are emf (E standard) and Ecell the same thing?
No
Is the emf (E standard from the nerd eqn) in voltaic cells always positive?
Yes. Voltaic cells progress spontaneously, and thus their emf (not their Ecell) is always positive
