ELECTROCHEMICA

L SERIES
MODULE:1 ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES
The arrangement of elements in the order of increasing reduction potential
values is called electrochemical series.
It is also called the activity series.
ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES
APPLICATIONS OF
ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES
1. REACTIVITY OF METALS
Electrodes having negative standard reduction potential value have a tendency
to undergo oxidation and acts as anode.
Electrodes having positive standard reduction potential values have a tendency
to undergo reduction and acts as cathode.
APPLICATIONS OF
ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES
2.REACTIVITY OF METALS
• Cell potential of the cell is the difference of the reduction potential of the cathode and the
anode.
• E °cell = E °(cathode) – E °(anode)
APPLICATIONS OF
ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES
3.DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS
 A metal having lower E  value will displace the metal having higher Evalue.
Zn+CuSO4→ZnSO4+Cu
 Metals having negative reduction potentials can displace hydrogen gas from acids.
Zn+ H2SO4→ZnSO4+H2
 A non-metal having higher reduction potential can displace a non-metal having lower reduction potential.
E.g. When fluorine is passed through sodium fluoride, fluorine displaces
chlorine which generated as chlorine gas.
2NaCl+F2→2NaF+Cl2
APPLICATIONS OF
ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES
4. Spontaneity of redox reactions
The spontaneity of chemical reactions can be predicted.
 Positive emf or reaction having greater emf value is spontaneous.
 Reaction with lower emf value is non spontaneous.
RELATION BETWEEN G AND EMF

G=-nFE

• ∆G= free energy,

• n= no: of electrons transferred,
• F= 1 faradays constant (96500C)
• Free energy (G) is defined as the energy that can be completely converted into
useful mechanical work.