Exercise 8.

2 (application of standard reduction potential)

Question 1

The standard electrode potentials for some half-cells are given below:
Half-cell Eθ / V
VO2+ / VO2+ +1.00 (I)
Cd2+ / Cd -0.40 (II)
BrO3− / Br2 +1.52 (III)
S4O62− / S2O32− +0.09 (IV)
Sn4+ / Sn2+ +0.15 (V)
Cl2 / Cl− +1.36 (VI)

(a) Arrange the appropriate species in the order of increasing oxidizing strength.
(b) State which species are able to oxidize the Cl − ion to Cl2
(c) State which species are able to reduce Sn4+ to Sn2+.
(d) Which of the following specie is more stable. Briefly explain your answer.
(i) Cd2+ or BrO3−
(ii) S2O32− or Br2
(iii) VO2+ or VO2+

(f) Determine the feasibility of the following reactions under standard conditions
by calculating the E values.
(i) 2VO2+ + 2H2O + Sn4+ 2VO2+ + 4H+ + Sn2+
(ii) 2BrO3− + 12H+ + 10Cl−  Br2 + 6H2O + 5Cl2

Question 2

Use the standard electrode potential data in the following table to predict the outcome
of the reaction of titanium with 0.5 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid.

Electrode reaction Eθ / V

Ti2+(aq) + 2e ⇌ Ti(s) -1.63

Ti3+(aq) + e ⇌ Ti2+(aq) -0.37
TiO2+ (aq) + 2H+ + e ⇌ Ti3+(aq) + H2O +0.10

Question 1 Answer:
First of all, rearrange the standard electrode potentials in order of increasing of E (from more
negative to more positive). The result is…

Half-cell Eθ / V
Cd2+ / Cd -0.40 (II)
S4O62− / S2O32− +0.09 (IV)
Sn4+ / Sn2+ +0.15 (V)
VO2+ / VO2+ +1.00 (I)
Cl2 / Cl− +1.36 (VI)
BrO3− / Br2 +1.52 (III)

(a) Arrange the appropriate species in the order of increasing oxidizing strength.
Cd2+ , S4O62- , Sn4+ , VO2+ , Cl2 , BrO3- (left hand-side going down oxidizing power increases)

−
(b) State which species are able to oxidize the Cl ion to Cl2
BrO3- (choose the oxidizing agent which is lower (stronger) than Cl2/Cl-)

(c) State which species are able to reduce Sn4+ to Sn2+.

S2O32- and Cd (choose the reducing agent which is higher(stronger) than Sn4+/Sn2+)

(d) Which of the following specie is more stable. Briefly explain your answer.
−
(i) Cd2+ or BrO3 - Both are oxidizing agents, but Cd2+ has a less positive E value, thus it is
a weaker oxidizing agent. It is more stable.
−
(ii) S2O32 or Br2 - Both are reducing agents, but BrO3-/Br2 has a more positive E value, thus
it is a waker reducing agent. It is more stable.
(iii) VO2+ or VO2+ - VO2+ is more stable. The E value is positive indicates that the reaction is
more favorable shift to the right to form a more stable product.

(f) Determine the feasibility of the following reactions under standard conditions by
calculating the E values.
(i) 2VO2+ + 2H2O + Sn4+ 2VO2+ + 4H+ + Sn2+

Given VO2+ + 2H+ + e  VO2+ + H2O +1.00

Reverse VO2+ + H2O  VO2+ + 2H+ + e -1.00 (A)
Sn + 2e  Sn2+
4+
+0.15 (B)

(A) + (B): 2VO2+ + 2H2O + Sn4+ 2VO2+ + 4H+ + Sn2+

E = (-1.00) + (+0.15) = -ve
It is none spontaneous

(ii) 2BrO3− + 12H+ + 10Cl−  Br2 + 6H2O + 5Cl2

 Using the similar method in (f)(i), calculate the E (which is +0.16V). Since E is positive,
the reaction is spontaneous.

Question 2
Use the standard electrode potential data in the following table to predict the outcome
of the reaction of titanium with 0.5 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid.

Electrode reaction Eθ / V

Ti2+(aq) + 2e ⇌ Ti(s) -1.63

Ti3+(aq) + e ⇌ Ti2+(aq) -0.37
TiO2+ (aq) + 2H+ + e ⇌ Ti3+(aq) + H2O +0.10

Answer:
2H+ + 2e  H2 E = 0.00
Based on the E value,
Ti metal should be able to react / reduce with H+ / H2SO4 to form H2 ,while itself oxidised to
Ti2+ (or H+ able to oxidise Ti to Ti2+ while itself reduced to H2)
Ti(s) + 2H+(aq)  Ti2+(aq) + H2(g)

Then, Ti2+ further react /reduce H+ to H2 while itself oxidised further to Ti3+ ions
2 Ti2+ + 2 H+  2 Ti3+ + H2
Since TiO2+/Ti3+ has a more positive E value, Ti3+ is stable with respect to oxidation / cannot
be oxidised by H+.