University11 min

Standard potentials: predicting a redox reaction

Read a scale of standard potentials, apply the gamma rule and compute a standard emf without slipping on a sign or a coefficient.

The essentials

1

What E° measures

E(Ox/Red)E^\circ(\text{Ox/Red}) is the potential of the couple, written in the reduction direction Ox+neXRed\text{Ox} + n\,\ce{e^-} \rightarrow \text{Red}, measured against the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE), for which E=0E^\circ = 0 V by convention. Standard conditions: activities equal to 11, pressure of 11 bar; tables are given at 25 C25\ ^\circ\text{C}.
2

Reading the scale

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3

The gamma rule

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4

E° is an intensive quantity

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5

Standard does not mean actual

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ƒWrite my own sheetOr start from a blank page: rewriting a concept in your own words is how it sticks.