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Half-Cell Notation Soln
Half-Cell Notation Soln
¾Electrodes involving gases – a gas is bubbled Example: A combination of the Zn(s)Zn2+ and
over an inert electrode Fe3+, Fe2+Pt(s) half-cells leads to:
Example: H2 gas over Pt electrode
H2(g) → 2H+ + 2e- (as oxidation)
Notation: Pt(s)H2(g)H+
• Cell notation
– The anode half-cell is written on the left of the
cathode half-cell Zn(s) → Zn2+ + 2e- (anode, oxidation)
– The electrodes appear on the far left (anode) and +
Fe3+ + e- → Fe2+ (×2) (cathode, reduction)
far right (cathode) of the notation
Zn(s) + 2Fe3+ → Zn2+ + 2Fe2+
– Salt bridges are represented by double vertical
lines ⇒ Zn(s)Zn2+ || Fe3+, Fe2+Pt(s)
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Example: A combination of the Pt(s)H2(g)H+ Example: Write the cell reaction and the cell
and Cl-AgCl(s)Ag(s) half-cells leads to: notation for a cell consisting of a graphite cathode
Note: The immersed in an acidic solution of MnO4- and Mn2+
reactants in the and a graphite anode immersed in a solution of Sn4+
overall reaction are and Sn2+.
in different phases →Write the half reactions (a list of the most common
(no physical half-reactions is given in Appendix D)
contact) ⇒ no need Sn2+ → Sn4+ + 2e- ×5 (oxidation)
+
of a salt bridge MnO4 + 8H + 5e → Mn + 4H2O(l) ×2 (reduction)
- + - 2+
H2(g) → 2H+ + 2e- (anode, oxidation) 5Sn2+ + 2MnO4- + 16H+ + 10e- → 5Sn4+ + 10e- +
+
AgCl(s) + e- → Ag(s) + Cl- (×2) (cathode, reduction) + 2Mn2+ + 8H2O(l)
2AgCl(s) + H2(g) → 2Ag(s) + 2H+ + 2Cl- →The graphite (C) electrodes are inactive
⇒ Pt(s)H2(g)H+, Cl-AgCl(s)Ag(s) ⇒ C(s)Sn2+, Sn4+ || H+, MnO4-, Mn2+C(s)
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¾Ecell is measured with a voltmeter • Electrode potentials (E) – characterize the
¾If the (+) terminal of the voltmeter is connected individual electrodes (half-reactions)
to the (+) electrode (cathode), the voltmeter – The cell potential is the difference between the
shows a positive reading electrode potentials of the cathode and anode
¾Ecell characterizes the overall cell reaction Ecell = Ecathode – Eanode
¾If Ecell > 0, the cell reaction is spontaneous • Standard electrode potentials (Eo) –
¾If Ecell < 0, the cell reaction is non-spontaneous electrode potentials at the standard-state
¾If Ecell = 0, the cell reaction is at equilibrium Eocell = Eocathode – Eoanode
Example: Zn(s)Zn2+(1M)|| Cu2+(1M)Cu(s) – Eo values are reported for the half-reaction
+1.10 V written as reduction (standard reduction
potentials) → listed in Appendix D
Zn(s) + → Zn2+ + Cu(s)
Cu2+
Eocell = 1.10 V > 0 → spontaneous reaction
¾Absolute values for E and Eo can’t be measured – If the unknown electrode is the cathode of the cell
⇒ A reference electrode (half-cell) is needed → Eocell = Eounkn – Eoref
• The potentials of all electrodes are measured relative → Eounkn = Eocell + Eoref = Eocell + 0 = Eocell > 0
to the reference electrode – If the unknown electrode is the anode of the cell
• Standard hydrogen electrode – used as a → Eocell = Eoref – Eounkn
reference electrode → Eoref = 0 V (assumed) → Eounkn = Eoref – Eocell = 0 – Eocell = –Eocell < 0
H+(1M)H2(g, 1atm)Pt(s) Example:
2H+(1M) + 2e- → H2(g, 1atm) Pt(s)H2(g, 1atm)H+(1M), Cl-(1M)AgCl(s)Ag(s)
– To find the potential of any electrode, a cell is H+/H2 → anode
constructed between the unknown electrode and Ag/AgCl → cathode
the reference electrode Eocell = EoAg/AgCl – Eref
– The cell potential is directly related to the = EoAg/AgCl
unknown electrode potential EoAg/AgCl = +0.22 V