Cell Potential The electric potential difference (E°) is a measure of the tendency of electrons to flow from then anode to the cathode. The higher the electric potential difference, the greater the tendenoy for electrons to flow. © Electric potential difference is measured in units of volts (V) and is also referred to as voltage or just electric potential or potential difference The degree symbol (E’) simply indicates the electric potential being measured at standard conditions ° Experiments were carried out to find the electric potential difference for different half-reactions. The potential difference for individual half-reactions written as a reduction half-reaction, are called standard reduction potentials © Alist of standard reduction potentials are listed in pg. 7 of data book © Since a voltaic cell cannot work with only one half-reaction, the standard reduction potentials for individual half-reactions were recorded with hydrogen acting as the other half-reaction/ half-cell: Stordacd 2H +2e—+ Hoe E'=0.00V Ee HOT oe | a ceduchon hal€- tan co The hydrogen half-cell has been assigned a voltage of 0.00V. Therefore the hydrogen half-reaction is considered the to be the standard/reference half-cell or half-reaction because all other standard reduction potentials are referenced to hydrogen The standard reduction potentials for individual half-reactions are useful for calculating the overall cell potential that will be produced by a voltaic cell The standard cell potential for any voltaic cell can be calculated using the following formula: e MEVEr Change these Valves, Ea = E%catnose ~ EPanode do mgt Cheage Sign oF qrainoly by & coe FBieient! To use this formula, it is crucial to first identify the oxidization half-reaction (occurs at anode) and the reduction half-reaction (occurs at cathode) Z °) SHrongesy ceducing ~Skrongesh oni Bing Ome nk Agent - OXidobon hal€- tin - ceduchan half - Fan Mosk Kegative — Cedechon = most positive reduchon Polktnha | excenei) Pofeahalclk Cucsre Znesy EXAMPLES: 4. Calculate the standard electric potential for a voltaic cell that has Cus and Zn.) as electrodes. CMR ree here Son Shh o catody o enode. ans Sore branes eons Uc ong Cup) 2. Calculate the standard cell potential for the voltaic cell in which the following reaction occurs: ee 21 (eq + Bran = By) + 2Br (ea) a ° Tl Feduced Ws Ee = Entre - Cenodte Ea = |0tv -l0.S4u) | ea = O.S3Y 3. Use the standard cell described below to determine the standa potential of the gallium haif-cell. Ga(s) | Ga**(aq) || Cu?*(aq) | Cu(s) E°cen = +0.90 V Gade Ca trod reduction Felt = C%etvode - EM anode Eenok® Entree ~ Staak = O-BHV- LO.40V) jee = -O.S6V7 E°. -0-40V b Sch fb O.0OV by 4. Assume that the reference half-cell is changed to cadmium. adding 0-4OV a. What would be the standard reduction potential for calcium? - 2.93v + o4ov =F 247U) b. What would be the standard reduction potential for silver? c. Calculate the standard net cell potential for the calcium-silver cell if cadmium is the reference haif-cell. Ca Coe As oon SOA: cottode SRA: Grobe Edy 7 Ege - Gin - | 20V-G2.44¥) (Eu d. Calculate the standard net cell potential for the calcium-silver cell using the hydrogen half-cell as the reference. eg eee ees Eien = O-'80v - (-28IV [ Een = 2.64 \ ® Brgy do not chenge cohen feFerence rolf- cell Cherges)) “Now try pg. 487 #1- 3, 4a,b & pg. 490 #2- 4, 6, 7 & Practice Problems***Cell Potential Practice Problem 1. Assume that the reference half-cell is changed to a standard mercury-mercury!) half-cell (a) What would be the reduction potential of a standard chlorine half-cell?[+0.51 V] (b) What would be the reduction potential of a standard nickel half-cell? [- 1.14 V] (c) What would be the net cell potential of a standard chlorine-nickel cell if mercury was the half-cell? [+1.62 V] (d) Calculate the net cell potential when hydrogen is the reference half-cell? Why is the answer to part c the same as the answer obtained using the standard hydrogen half-cell as the reference? [All standard reduction potential are just shifting by a constant value depending on the assigned reference potential. However, the difference between standard reduction potentials will not change]Pema eee ‘Student Textbook page 490 40 Teis importane to keep each halfcll separate so that an instantaneous rection does not occus, “short-circuiting” the voltmeter. 2. The standasd half-cell potentials are messuted using the hydrogen halé-cel as a reference, In the equation Peas = Feasoie~ Euunte the hydrogen half-cell is given value of zero, Any measured voltage would therefore yydrogen half ofthe cell. ashe ~ Fhe (0, Fea Pats ~ Prone $123 (08ov) = +043 4. (0) Big= Pratte Ey = to V—-0.26¥) = +0.60V (0) Bea= Pratade— Eas t150V~ 040) = +1.90V (0 Beam Presta ~ Front = “p04 ¥—C046¥) = +050 5, No, a student using the Alberta Chemistry Data Booklet ould not build a voltae cell with standard cll potential of 7.0 V. The strongest oxidizing agent F,(g) and the Strongest reducing agent Li() would only yield 5.91 V. By buulng gold-aluminiura cell in sties with (wo cell, coral of 732 V could be achicred 6, The ell potential describes the potential diference beareen two clectodes of cll or the amount of energy tn a charge sit mores between ‘wo electrodes, Te cell potential is dependent on both the anode ad the cathode tied The standard eduction potential isa measure ofthe Smount of energy for only the retin half ell, Since redetion cannot happen without oxidation, reduction potential ate measuted against a standard reference, the Hydrogen hall, which is stata reduction potential of o00v. Piar= Pate ~ Pic O76V)= +175