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Understanding Electrode Potential in Cells

Electrode potential (E) is generated when a metal contacts a solution of its ions and is connected to a standard hydrogen electrode (S.H.E.), leading to electron flow and electricity. The measured electromotive force (e.m.f.) can be classified as oxidation potential for metals losing electrons or reduction potential for ions accepting electrons. Standard electrode potential (E°) is measured under specific conditions, including a temperature of 298 K, ion concentration of 1.0 M, gas pressure of 1.0 atm, and a S.H.E. potential of zero.

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5 views1 page

Understanding Electrode Potential in Cells

Electrode potential (E) is generated when a metal contacts a solution of its ions and is connected to a standard hydrogen electrode (S.H.E.), leading to electron flow and electricity. The measured electromotive force (e.m.f.) can be classified as oxidation potential for metals losing electrons or reduction potential for ions accepting electrons. Standard electrode potential (E°) is measured under specific conditions, including a temperature of 298 K, ion concentration of 1.0 M, gas pressure of 1.0 atm, and a S.H.E. potential of zero.

Uploaded by

emmanuelkrampah944
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

ELECTRODE POTENTIAL (E) AND ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS When a metal is in contact

with a solution of its own ions and it is connected to a standard hydrogen electrode (S.H.E.),
there is either the tendency of the metal to loose electrons to the S.H.E and form its tons or
for the ions to accept electrons from the S.H.E. to form the metal. In either case, there is flow
of electrons and this constitutes flow of electricity. As such, an electromotive force (e.m.f.) is
generated. The measured e.m.f. is called an electrode potential, E. Some metals loose
electrons when in contact with their own ions (i.e oxidation). The e.m.f. measured here is
called an oxidation potential, e.g. ZnZn²+2e. The ions of other metals rather accept electrons
to be reduced to their metals and so the e.m.f. measured is called reduction potential; e.g.
Cu²+2eCu. E.m.f. is measured under certain standard conditions and when this is done, the
name becomes standard electrode potential, E". The standard conditions are: (1) the
temperature at which the measurement is done should be 298 K (11) the concentration of
all effective ions must be 1.0 м. (iii) gas pressure should be 1.0 atm; and (iv) the standard
hydrogen electrode should have a potential of zero. Thus, the standard electrode potential,
E", is said to be the measure of the tendency of an element to form ions in solution relative
to the tendency of hydrogen atoms to form ions in solution at standard conditions. E is the
potential or e.m.f. measured between any redox half compartment and the standard
hydrogen electrode (S.H.E) under standard conditions.

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