Redox Equilibria

Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Series

After completing these activites, students should:

• Explain how cells are used to measure electrode potentials by reference to a standard hydrogen electrode.


• Appreciate the importance of standard conditions when measuring electrode potentials, and define these conditions.


• Explain how standard electrode potentials can be listed as an electrochemical series.


• Use the IUPAC convention for writing half-equations for electrode reactions.


• Recognise and use the conventional representation of cells.


• Use standard electrode potentials to calculate the e.m.f. of a cell.

Lesson: Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Series

Portable electrical equipment relies on the use of electrical cells to provide power. In an electrical cell, redox reactions take place at two different electrodes so that electrons flow from one electrode to another. In this lesson you are going to investigate the redox reactions that take place when two half-cells are connected.