Topic

Electrode Potential series

Definition:
Electrode potential series is a series of chemical elements arranged in order of their standard
electrode potentials. The hydrogen electrode.[1]
H+(aq) + e- 1/2H2
is taken as having zero electrode potential. An electrode potential is, by definition, a reduction
potential.
Elements that have a greater tendency than hydrogen to lose electrons to their solution are taken
as electropositive; those that gain electrons from their solution are below hydrogen in the series
and are called electronegative.
The series shows the order in which metals replace one another from their salts; electropositive
metals will replace hydrogen from acids.[1]
Dependence:
 Nature of metal
 Concentration of ion in solution
 Temperature
Characteristics:
1. The substances which are stronger reducing agents than hydrogen are placed above
hydrogen in the series and have negative values of standard reduction potentials.
2. All those substances which have positive values of reduction potentials and placed below
hydrogen in the series are weaker reducing agents than hydrogen.
3. The substances which are stronger oxidizing agents than H+ ion are placed below hydrogen
in the series.
4. The metals on the top (having high negative values of standard reduction potentials) have
the tendency to lose electrons readily. These are active metals.
5. The activity of metals decreases from top to bottom.
6. The activity of non-metals increases from top to bottom.[2]
Application:
1. Oxidizing power decrease from top to bottom in the series.
2. The element which have more electron accepting tendency are oxidizing agent.
3. The elements like Cu , Ag , Hg , Br2 , Cl2 are good oxidizing agent.
4. The element which more electron losing tendency are reducing agent.
5. The reducing strength increases from top to bottom in series.
6. The elements like Zn , Cd , Ni , K are good reducing agent.[3]
Construction:
The electrode potential series is built up by arranging various redox equilibria in order of their
standard electrode potentials (redox potentials). The most negative E° values are placed at the top
of the electrochemical series, and the most positive at the bottom.
Take a zinc half cell which is composed of zinc electrode in a container of 1mole dm 3 zinc+2 ions
Zinc half cell is connected by wire and a salt bridge to the standard hydrogen electrode and
voltmeter is connected with circuit which measure the electric potential of the zinc half cell.[4]

figure.1

Working principle:
Zinc is higher in activity series than hydrogen electron flow from zinc half cell to the standard
hydrogen electrode .In zinc half cell oxidation occur to form Zn+2 ions. In standard hydrogen
electrode reduction occur to form hydrogen gas .When electron move from zinc half cell to
standard hydrogen potential the standard electrode potential is establish which is 0.74 of zinc half
cell.[4]
Reaction:

Zn Zn2+ + 2e-

2H 2e- + H2

Overall reaction:

Zn +2H+ Zn2+ + H2

Design:

The electrochemical series is built up by arranging various redox equilibria in order of their
standard electrode potentials (redox potentials). The most negative E° values are placed at the top
of the electrochemical series, and the most positive at the bottom.

figure.2

Efficiency:

The maximum efficiency for an electrochemical cell is dependent on the oxidation-reduction

reaction that takes place. This efficiency is the ratio of the Gibbs free energy to the enthalpy
change of the reaction.

G/ H = 1 - (T S)/ H

As soon as current begins to flow through a cell, energy is lost and efficiency is reduced. This is
because of resistence in the wires and the cell. We can think of resistence as being similar to
friction. As the electron travels, some of its energy is lost as waste heat.[5]
References:

1. https://glossary.periodni.com/glossary.php?en=electrode potential+series
2. https://www.askiitians.com/iit-jee-chemistry/physical-chemistry/electrochemical-
series.aspx#characteristics-of-electrochemical-series.
3. https://hemantmore.org.in/science/chemistry/electrochemical-series/4223/
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pORJQyP-2j8&t=87s
5. http://butane.chem.uiuc.edu/pshapley/genchem2/C7/3.html