18.2 Standard Reduction Potentials

• When a half-reaction is reversed, the sign of E⁰ is reversed
• When a half-reaction is multiplied by an integer, E⁰ remains the same
• Standard reduction potential is an intensive property: It does NOT depend on the amount of material
• Reaction occurs at the cathode
• Oxidization occurs at the anode
• Cell potential is always positive in a galvanic cell
• Direction of electron flow: Obtained by inspecting the half-reactions and using the direction that gives a positive cell potential [Designation of the anode and cathode]
• In a galvanic cell, the standard cell potential MUST be positive Since the second equation has a less positive E⁰, it is reversed
•  reaction is product-favored if E°net is positive and reactant-favored if E°net is negative. In this case, E°net < 0 and the reaction is reactant-favored.