Standard Electrode Potentials
In an
electrochemical cell, an
electric potential
is created between two dissimilar metals. This potential is a measure
of the energy per unit charge which is available from the
oxidation/reduction reactions
to drive the reaction. It is customary to visualize the cell reaction
in terms of two half-reactions, an oxidation half-reaction and a
reduction half-reaction.
| Reduced species -> oxidized species + ne- |
|
| Oxidized species + ne- -> reduced species |
|
The cell potential (often called the electromotive force or
emf)
has a contribution from the anode which is a measure of its ability to
lose electrons - it will be called its "oxidation potential". The
cathode has a contribution based on its ability to gain electeons, its
"reduction potential". The cell potential can then be written
Ecell = oxidation potential + reduction potential
If we could tabulate the oxidation and reduction potentials of all
available electrodes, then we could predict the cell potentials of
voltaic cells
created from any pair of electrodes. Actually, tabulating one or the
other is sufficient, since the oxidation potential of a half-reaction is
the negative of the reduction potential for the reverse of that
reaction. Two main hurdles must be overcome to establish such a
tabulation
- The electrode potential cannot be determined in isolation, but in a reaction with some other electrode.
- The electrode potential depends upon the concentrations of the
substances, the temperature, and the pressure in the case of a gas
electrode.
In practice, the first of these hurdles is overcome by measuring the
potentials with respect to a standard hydrogen electrode. It is the
nature of electric potential that the
zero of potential
is arbitrary; it is the difference in potential which has practical
consequence. Tabulating all electrode potentials with respect to the
same standard electrode provides a practical working framework for a
wide range of calculations and predictions. The standard hydrogen
electrode is assigned a potential of zero volts.
The second hurdle is overcome by choosing standard thermodynamic
conditions for the measurement of the potentials. The standard electrode
potentials are customarily determined at solute concentrations of 1
Molar, gas pressures of 1 atmosphere, and a standard temperature which
is usually 25°C. The standard cell potential is denoted by a degree sign
as a superscript.
|
E°Cell
|
- Measured against standard hydroden electrode.
- Concentration 1 Molar
- Pressure 1 atmosphere
- Temperature 25°C
|
The example below shows some of the extreme values for standard cell potentials.
Cathode (Reduction)
Half-Reaction | Standard Potential
E° (volts) |
| Li+(aq) + e- -> Li(s) |
-3.04
|
| K+(aq) + e- -> K(s) |
-2.92
|
| Ca2+(aq) + 2e- -> Ca(s) |
-2.76
|
| Na+(aq) + e- -> Na(s) |
-2.71
|
| Zn2+(aq) + 2e- -> Zn(s) |
-0.76
|
| Cu2+(aq) + 2e- -> Cu(s) |
0.34
|
| O3(g) + 2H+(aq) + 2e- -> O2(g) + H2O(l) |
2.07
|
| F2(g) + 2e- -> 2F-(aq) |
2.87
|
The values for the table entries are reduction potentials, so lithium
at the top of the list has the most negative number, indicating that it
is the strongest reducing agent. The strongest oxidizing agent is
fluorine with the largest positive number for standard electrode
potential. The link below takes you to a more extensive table.
Useful applications of the standard electrode potentials include the following.