NOCKHARDY

ELECTRODE STANDARD HYDROGEN ELECTRODE

KNOTES POTENTIALS V
A LEVEL CHEMISTRY
AT A G L AN CE Salt Bridge (KCl) Hydrogen
(1 atm.)

THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES Platinum

Zinc

• Species are arranged in order of their standard electrode potentials

• All equations are written as reductions ... gaining electrons

Zn 2+
(aq)
(1M) H +(aq) (1M)
F2(g) + 2e¯ 2F¯(aq) +2.87 V
MnO4¯(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5e¯ Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l) +1.52 V
temperature 298K (25°C)
Cl2(g) + 2e¯ 2Cl¯(aq) +1.36 V
2- solution conc. 1M (1 mol dm-3) with respect to H+ ions
Cr2O7 (aq) + I4H+(aq) + 6e¯ 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) +1.33 V
gases 1 atmosphere pressure
Br2(l) + 2e¯ 2Br¯(aq) +1.07 V
E° value 0.00V.
Fe3+(aq) + e¯ Fe2+(aq) +0.77 V
I2(s) + 2e¯ 2I¯(aq) +0.54 V salt bridge filled with saturated potassium chloride solution;
Cu2+(aq) + 2e¯ Cu(s) +0.34 V it enables the circuit to be completed
2H+(aq) + 2e¯ H2(g) 0.00 V
Fe2+(aq) + 2e¯ Fe(s) -0.44 V
Zn2+ (aq) + 2e¯ Zn(s) -0.76 V CELL DIAGRAMS
These give a diagrammatic representation of what is happening in a cell.
• Highest positive value = best oxidising agent
• A species with a more positive potential (E° value) will oxidise V
one (reverse the equation) with a lower E° value
2+ 2+
Zn Zn Cu Cu
(s) (aq) (aq) (s)
e.g. Cr2O72- (E° = +1.33V ) will oxidise Br¯ to Br2 (E° = +1.07V )
ANODE CATHODE
and I¯ to I2 (E° = +0.54V )
BUT NOT Cl¯ to Cl2 (E° = +1.36V ) • Place the half cell with the more positive E° value on the RHS.
Draw it out as shown to indicate that ...
By combining half equations and their E° values you can predict • the cell reaction goes from left to right
whether, or not, a redox reaction will take place. In theory, a redox • the electrons go round the external circuit from left to right
reaction should proceed if the E° value is positive. In reality, it has to • the cell voltage is E°(RHS) - E°(LHS). In this way it must be positive
be greater than about +0.40V. • oxidation takes place at the anode, reduction at the cathode
© J. L. HOPTON 2000