Electrode potentials and cells (A-level only) (3.1.11.1) | AQA A-level Chemistry - (7405)

3.1.11.1 Electrode potentials and cells (A-level only)

Content	Opportunities for skills development
$E^{\ominus}$

IUPAC convention for writing half-equations for electrode reactions.

The conventional representation of cells.

Cells are used to measure electrode potentials by reference to the standard hydrogen electrode.

The importance of the conditions when measuring the electrode potential, E (Nernst equation not required).

Standard electrode potential, $E^{\ominus}$ , refers to conditions of 298 K, 100 kPa and 1.00 mol dm⁻³ solution of ions.

Standard electrode potentials can be listed as an electrochemical series.

Students should be able to:

use values to predict the direction of simple redox reactions

AT j and k

PS 1.1

Students could make simple cells and use them to measure unknown electrode potentials.

AT a, b, j and k

PS 2.1 and 2.4

Students could be asked to plan and carry out an experiment to investigate the effect of changing conditions, such as concentration or temperature, in a voltaic cell such as Zn|Zn²⁺||Cu²⁺| Cu

AT j and k

PS 2.2

Students could use $E^{\ominus}$ values to predict the direction of simple redox reactions, then test these predictions by simple test-tube reactions.

Required practical 8

Measuring the EMF of an electrochemical cell.

Electrode potentials and cells (A-level only)

Next Steps

Learning Objectives