Electrode Potential

What is Electrode Potential?

Electrode potential is the measure of tendency of an electron to undergo a reduction or oxidation reaction, due to this fact it is also called redox potential.

What does Electrode Potential represent?

Electrode Potential represents the potential difference between an electrode and its surrounding solution when no current is flowing through the electrode.

How is Electrode Potential measured?

Electrode potential is measured using a reference electrode which has known and stable potential. To measure electrode potential

is typically measured using a reference electrode, which has a known and stable potential. The reference electrode is connected to the electrode of interest, and the potential difference between the two electrodes is measured using a voltmeter or a potentiostat.

What is standard electrode potential?

Standard electrode potential is the potential difference between an electrode and its surrounding solution when the concentration of all species involved in the electrode reaction is 1 M, the temperature is 25°C (298 K), and the pressure is 1 atm. Standard electrode potentials are tabulated and used as reference values to compare the reactivity of different electrodes which is known as electrochemical series.

How are standard electrode potentials determined?

Standard electrode potentials are determined experimentally by measuring the electrode potential of a half-cell relative to a reference electrode under standard conditions. The half-cell reaction is balanced, and the potential is measured using a voltmeter. The measured potentials are then tabulated, and the values are standardized and widely accepted.

What is the significance of standard electrode potential?

Standard electrode potentials provide valuable information about the reactivity and relative strength of different redox couples or half-reactions. By comparing the standard electrode potentials of different electrodes, it is possible to predict the direction of electron flow in a redox reaction and determine the feasibility of a particular redox process.

How is the direction of electron flow determined using standard electrode potentials?

The direction of electron flow in a redox reaction can be determined by comparing the standard electrode potentials of the half-reactions involved. The reaction will occur spontaneously in the direction where the more positive electrode potential corresponds to reduction (gaining electrons), and the more negative electrode potential corresponds to oxidation (losing electrons).

What does a positive or negative standard electrode potential indicate?

A positive standard electrode potential (E° > 0) indicates that the reduction half-reaction is more favorable under standard conditions, and the electrode acts as a good oxidizing agent. A negative standard electrode potential (E° < 0) indicates that the oxidation half-reaction is more favorable under standard conditions, and the electrode acts as a good reducing agent.

How does temperature affect electrode potential?

Electrode potential is temperature-dependent. As temperature increases, electrode potentials generally change according to the Nernst equation, which relates the electrode potential to the concentration and activities of the species involved in the redox reaction. The Nernst equation allows for the calculation of the electrode potential under non-standard conditions.

Can electrode potential be altered or controlled?

Electrode potential can be altered or controlled by changing the concentration of reactants or by applying an external potential using an external power supply. These changes can shift the electrode potential away from its standard value and allow for the manipulation of redox reactions.

Electrode Potential and Standard Electrode Potential are key concepts in the field of electrochemistry which is the branch of chemistry that deals with relationships between electric potential differences and observable chemical change. Electrode Potential is also used extensively in the development of sustainable battery technologies, as all modern-day batteries work on this principle to create voltage for the smooth operations of electronic gadgets. This article deals with the topic of Electrode Potential and Standard Electrode Potential in detail and helps us understand how electricity or potential is produced using chemistry.