The Electrochemical Series

using standard electrode potentials

1. The Electrochemical Series

a. Right-hand electrode relative to hydrogen
b. REDOX behaviour
2. Using Standard Electrode Potentials
a. Proving Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)
b. Identifying reaction for which Eocell is +ve

James Mungall 2010

Right-hand electrode relative to hydrogen

Standard conditions (1atm, 1moldm -3, standard states, 298K)

tends to REDOX behaviour tends to

lose electrons gain electrons

Zn2+, Zn -0.76V

Ni2+, Ni -0.25V

H+, H2 0V

Cu2+, Cu +0.34V

Ag+, Ag +0.80V

, Cl2, Cl- +1.38V

James Mungall 2010

More commonly written in a table of reduction half-equations

Electrode Eo / V

-ve reverse () Zn2+ + 2e- Zn -0.76

tends to lose
Ni2+ + 2e- Ni -0.25
electrons
H+ + e- H2 0
Cu2+ + 2e- Cu +0.34
Ag+ + e- Ag +0.80
Br2 + e- Br- +1.09 tends to gain
+ve forward () Cl2 + e- Cl- +1.38 electrons

SIGN of Eo indicates bias of equilibrium

James Mungall 2010

The Electrochemical Series
using standard electrode potentials

1. The Electrochemical Series

a. Right-hand electrode relative to hydrogen
b. REDOX behaviour
2. Using Standard Electrode Potentials
a. Proving Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)
b. Identifying reaction for which Eocell is +ve

James Mungall 2010

 Proving Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)

Cu, Cu2+ = +0.34V

if an electrode is on the L.H.S., its e.m.f. is reversed

Cu, Cu2+ = +0.34V

Zn, Zn2+ = -0.76V
+1.10V -1.10V

e.m.f. = +0.34 + 0.76 = +1.10V e.m.f. = -0.76 - 0.34 = -1.10V

Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)

James Mungall 2010

The Electrochemical Series
using standard electrode potentials

1. The Electrochemical Series

a. Right-hand electrode relative to hydrogen
b. REDOX behaviour
2. Using Standard Electrode Potentials
a. Proving Eocell = Eo(right hand electrode) Eo(left hand electrode)
b. Identifying reaction for which Eocell is +ve

James Mungall 2010

Identifying reaction for which Eocell is +ve Anticlockwise rule

positive electrode goes in the forward direction

this is reduction and goes on the right of the cell

Electrode Eo / V
e.g. nickel and copper
Zn2+ + 2e- Zn -0.76
Ni2+ + 2e- Ni -0.25
H+ + e- H2 0
Ni2+ + 2e- Ni -0.25
Cu2+ + 2e- Cu +0.34
Cu2+ + 2e- Cu +0.34
Ag+ + e- Ag +0.80
Br2 + e- Br- +1.09

cell e.m.f. = R.H.S. L.H.S. Cl2 + e- Cl- +1.38

= +0.34 + 0.25
= +0.59V
+ve value indicates that the feasible reaction is Cu 2+ Cu and Ni Ni2+

+0.59V

James Mungall 2010

Identifying reaction for which Eocell is +ve Anticlockwise rule

positive electrode goes in the forward direction

this is reduction and goes on the right of the cell

Electrode Eo / V
e.g. chlorine and bromine

Br2 + e- Br- +1.09

Cl2 + e- Cl- +1.38

Br2 + e- Br- +1.09

Cl2 + e- Cl- +1.38
The feasible, spontaneous reactions are
Cl2 + e- Cl-
cell e.m.f. = R.H.S. L.H.S.
Br- Br2 + e-
= +1.38 1.09
= +0.29V Cl2 + Br- Cl-+ Br2

James Mungall 2010

 e.m.f. -ve lose electrons

+ve gain electrons

Electrochemical Series Ecell = RHS LHS

for Ecell +ve,

more +ve forward gains e- RHS

References

Jim Clark, Calculations in AS/A Level Chemistry (2000). Pearson Education.

Nuffield Advanced Science, Book of Data (1984). Longman.

James Mungall 2010