Thermodynamics & Electrode Potential (Edexcel International A Level Chemistry)

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Thermodynamic Feasibility

Feasibility

  • The Evalues of a species indicate how easily they can get oxidised or reduced
  • The more positive the value, the easier it is to reduce the species on the left of the half-equation
    • The reaction will tend to proceed in the forward direction

  • The less positive the value, the easier it is to oxidise the species on the right of the half-equation
    • The reaction will tend to proceed in the backward direction
    • A reaction is feasible (likely to occur) when the Ecell is positive

  • For example, two half-cells in the following electrochemical cell are:

Cl2 (g) + 2e- ⇌ 2Cl- (aq)        E = +1.36 V

Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- ⇌ Cu (s)        E = +0.34 V

  • Cl2 molecules are reduced as they have a more positive E value
  • The chemical reaction that occurs in this half cell is:

Cl2 (g) + 2e- → 2Cl- (aq)          

  • Cu2+ ions are oxidised as they have a less positive E value
  • The chemical reaction that occurs in this half cell is:

Cu (s) → Cu2+ (aq) + 2e-

  • The overall equation of the electrochemical cell is (after cancelling out the electrons):

Cu (s) + Cl2 (g) → 2Cl- (aq) + Cu2+ (aq)

OR

Cu (s) + Cl2 (g) → CuCl2 (s)

  • The forward reaction is feasible (spontaneous) as it has a positive E value of +1.02 V ((+1.36) - (+0.34))
  • The backward reaction is not feasible (not spontaneous) as it has a negative Evalue of -1.02 ((+0.34) - (+1.36))

Reaction Feasibility (1), downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notesPrinciples of Electrochemistry - Reaction Feasibility (2), downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

A reaction is feasible when the standard cell potential E is positive

Examiner Tip

You may have to apply your understanding (from the above worked example) to questions with more than 2 equations

  • The process is still the same in terms of identifying the most positive / least negative value as the reduction reactions 
  • This reaction will also contain the oxidising agent on the left hand side

Entropy Change & ln K

  • Cell potential is related to both entropy, S, and the equilibrium constant, K
  • A larger cell potential means a bigger change in total entropy
    • Therefore, we can say that cell potential is directly proportional to total entropy change

Eθ ∝ ΔStotal  

  • The use of two equations for Gibbs free energy change can also show that:

Eθ ∝ lnK

    • Δ= –nF Eθcell
    • Δ= –RT ln K

Examiner Tip

You are expected to be aware of the two directly proportional relationships described

However, you are not expected to work with the Faraday based Gibbs free energy equation

Δ= –nF Eθcell

  • The Faraday constant, F, is not given in the Data Booklet

Limitations of Standard Electrode Potential Predictions

  • The thermodynamic feasibility of a reaction can be deduced from the electrode potential, however, it gives no information about the rate of reaction
  • As standard electrode potentials are measured using solutions, we have to consider the le Châtelier's effect on concentration using non-standard conditions
    • For example, the redox equilibrium equation and standard electrode potential for the V3+ | V2+ system are:

V3+ (aq) + e- ⇌ V2+ (aq)       Eθ = +0.26 V

    • If the concentration of V3+ (aq) is greater than 1.0 mol dm-3, then the equilibrium will shift to the right
      • This will remove electrons from the system, therefore, making the electrode potential less negative 
    • If the concentration of V2+ (aq) is greater than 1.0 mol dm-3, then the equilibrium will shift to the left 
      • This will add electrons to the system, therefore, making the electrode potential more negative 
    • Any change to the concentration will cause a change to the electrode potential and, therefore, to the overall cell potential
      • This is true of any change to the conditions that results in non-standard conditions
  • Reaction kinetics can also affect the prediction
    1. The rate of reaction may simply be so slow that it looks like the reaction isn't happening, when it is
    2. The reaction may have a high activation energy which inhibits the reaction, for example:

            Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- ⇌ Cu (s)   Eθ = 0.34 V

            2H+ (aq) + 2e- ⇌ H2 (g)   Eθ = 0.00 V

      • The reaction of Cu2+ (aq) + H2 (g) → Cu (s) + 2H+ (aq) is thermodynamically feasible with an electromotive force of +0.34 V
      • However, this reaction does not occur as the activation energy is so high which means that the reactants are kinetically stable
  • Another, more basic limitation is the fact that many redox reactions are not aqueous

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Richard

Author: Richard

Expertise: Chemistry

Richard has taught Chemistry for over 15 years as well as working as a science tutor, examiner, content creator and author. He wasn’t the greatest at exams and only discovered how to revise in his final year at university. That knowledge made him want to help students learn how to revise, challenge them to think about what they actually know and hopefully succeed; so here he is, happily, at SME.