Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Electrode Potentials
Electrode potentials, measured in volts, indicate the tendency of a chemical species to be reduced. Standard electrode potentials (E°) are measured under standard conditions and are crucial for predicting the direction of redox reactions. The more positive the electrode potential, the greater the species' ability to gain electrons and undergo reduction.
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Gibbs Free Energy (ΔG)
Gibbs Free Energy (ΔG) is a thermodynamic quantity that indicates the spontaneity of a reaction. It combines enthalpy and entropy to determine whether a reaction can occur spontaneously at constant temperature and pressure. A negative ΔG value signifies a spontaneous reaction, while a positive value indicates non-spontaneity.
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Gibbs Free Energy of Reactions
Nernst Equation
The Nernst Equation relates the electrode potential of a half-cell to the concentrations of the reactants and products involved in the redox reaction. It allows for the calculation of the cell potential under non-standard conditions, which is essential for determining the Gibbs Free Energy change (ΔG) for a reaction. The equation is given by E = E° - (RT/nF)ln(Q), where Q is the reaction quotient.
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