Difference between cell potential and standard reduction potential?
John F asked:
What is the difference between cell potential and standard reduction potential?
I’ve been stuck on this way longer than I need to be. The choices are:
A.The cell potential is the total voltage for the oxidation and reduction half-reactions, and the standard reduction potential is the voltage of just the reduction half-reaction.
B.Standard reduction potentials are measured at 0 atm while cell potentials can be measured at any pressure.
C.The cell potential is the voltage of the oxidation half reaction, and the standard reduction potential is the voltage of just the reduction half-reaction.
D.Cell potentials can be either positive or negative, but standard reduction potentials are always positive.
E.Standard reduction potentials are measured at 0C while cell potentials can be measured at any temperature.
It’s A. Cell potential applies when you’re looking at two connected half-cells, and standard reduction potential is just concerning one half. To get cell potential from standard reduction potential, take the more positive reduction potential, and subtract the more negative one.