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Ch.19 - Electrochemistry
Chapter 19, Problem 62a,b

Calculate E°cell for each balanced redox reaction and determine if the reaction is spontaneous as written. a. O2(g) + 2 H2O(l) + 4 Ag(s) → 4 OH(aq) + 4 Ag+(aq) b. Br2(l) + 2 I(aq) → 2 Br(aq) + I2(s)

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Standard Electrode Potential (Ec°ell)

The standard electrode potential, Ec°ell, is a measure of the tendency of a chemical species to be reduced, expressed in volts. It is determined under standard conditions (1 M concentration, 1 atm pressure, and 25°C). The overall cell potential for a redox reaction can be calculated by subtracting the reduction potential of the anode from that of the cathode, indicating whether the reaction can occur spontaneously.
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Redox Reactions

Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between two species, where one is oxidized (loses electrons) and the other is reduced (gains electrons). In these reactions, the oxidation state of the elements changes, and they can be balanced using half-reactions. Understanding the oxidation states and identifying the oxidizing and reducing agents is crucial for analyzing redox processes.
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Spontaneity of Reactions

A reaction is considered spontaneous if it occurs without external intervention, which can be determined by the sign of the cell potential (Ec°ell). If Ec°ell is positive, the reaction is spontaneous as written; if negative, it is non-spontaneous. This concept is rooted in thermodynamics, where spontaneous processes tend to increase the overall entropy of the system.
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