Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Half-Reactions
Half-reactions represent the oxidation and reduction processes occurring in an electrochemical reaction. Each half-reaction shows the transfer of electrons, with one species being oxidized (losing electrons) and another being reduced (gaining electrons). Understanding how to write and balance these half-reactions is crucial for determining the overall reaction and its electrochemical properties.
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Standard Electrode Potential (E°)
The standard electrode potential (E°) is a measure of the tendency of a chemical species to be reduced, measured under standard conditions (1 M concentration, 1 atm pressure, and 25°C). It is expressed in volts and is used to predict the direction of electron flow in electrochemical cells. The overall E° for a reaction can be calculated by subtracting the E° of the oxidation half-reaction from that of the reduction half-reaction.
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Spontaneity of Reactions
The spontaneity of a reaction under standard-state conditions can be determined using the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG). A negative ΔG indicates that a reaction is spontaneous, while a positive ΔG suggests it is non-spontaneous. The relationship between E° and ΔG is given by the equation ΔG = -nFE°, where n is the number of moles of electrons transferred and F is Faraday's constant. Thus, a positive E° corresponds to a spontaneous reaction.
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