Write a report on Electromotive Force series of metals

Electromotive Force Series of metals:

 Definition No .1:
When metallic elements or ions are arranged according to their electrode potentials
determined under specific condition the resulting list is known as Electromotive Force series.

 Definition No.2:
The tendency of one metal to reduce the ions of any other metal below it in the series in order
is called EMF series of metals.

 Electrode Potential:
The potential set up when an electrode comes in contact with on molar solution of uts own
ions at 298 K is called as standard electrode potential of the element. It is represented as E0

 Applications of Electromotive Force series:

1) Prediction of the feasibility of a Chemical Reaction:

When we look at the EMF series, it is easy to predict whether a particular reaction will
take place or not. For instance, Cu+2 (aq) can oxidize solid zinc but Zn+2 (aq) cannot
oxidize solid copper. Standard reduction potential values of copper and zinc can explain
this
Cu+2 (aq) + 2e- Cu (s) E0= + 0.34 V
Zn+2 (aq) + 2e- Zn (s) E0= - 0.76 V
Since Zinc is being oxidized so reverse reaction will be considered:
Zn (s) Zn+2 (aq) + 2e- E0= + 0.76 V

The overall reaction will be

Cu+2 (aq) +Zn (s) Cu (s) =Zn+2 (aq) E0= 1.10 V

2) Calculation of the Voltage or Electromotive (emf) of cell:

In a galvanic cell, the electrode with higher place in EMF series acts as anode and oxidation
take place on it. Similarly with lower place in EMF series acts as cathode and reduction takes
place on it.
The cell voltage or emf of cell is given by:

E0cell=E0oxi+E0red
The emf measures the force with which the electrons move in the external circuit and this
measure tendency of the cell reaction to take place.
3) Relative Chemical Reactivity of Metals:
Greater the value of standard electrode potential of a metal, smaller will be its tendency to
lose electron into a positive ion and so lower will be its reactivity. For example, metals like
Li, Na, K, and Rb are highly reactive as compared to coinage metals which has low reactivity
because they have positive reduction potential.

4) Reaction of Metals with Dilute Acids:

Greater the value of standard reduction potential of a metal, less is its tendency to lose
electrons to form metal ions and weaker is its tendency to displace H2 from acids. For
instance, metals like Au, Pt and Cu which have high positive reduction potential, do not
liberate hydrogen from acids as compared to metals like Zn, Mg and Ca

5) Displacement of One Metal by Another from its Solution:

Metal will displace another metal from the aqueous solution of its salt if it lies above EMF
series. For example, Fe can displace Cu from CuSO4, Zn cannot displace Mg from the
solution of MgSO4.
Figure 1: The standard EMF series.