Electrode Potentials

Question 1

What is the standard electrode potential?

Answer 1

The standard electrode potential of a half cell is potential difference of a half-cell when connected to a standard hydrogen cell under standard conditions.

Question 2

What two reactions happen in an electrochemical cell?

Answer 2

Oxidations and reductions (redox).

Question 3

Which way do electrons flow in electrochemical cells?

Answer 3

They flow through the wire from the most reactive metal to the least .

Question 4

The more positive the electrode potential, the more easily….?

Answer 4

Reduced the metal is.

Question 5

Which reaction are you supposed to flip the equation for?

Answer 5

The equation that is oxidised (the more negative one).

Question 6

How do you calculate the EP of a cell?

Answer 6

Reduced-oxidised

Question 7

THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES: Why may predictions of the electropotential in the electrochemical series differ from the actual value?

Answer 7

• The conditions may not be standard: changing conc may shift equilibrium.
• Kinetics of reaction may be soo slow that the reaction may not appear to happen. If it has a high activation energy, it may stop happening.