Standard Potentials in Electrochemical Series

[Selena_Wong_1I]

Why is it more strongly reducing when the standard potential is low/negative and vice versa?

[Christopher Liu 3J]

Standard potential can be thought of as the electron pulling power of an electrode. So, if the standard potential is a large positive number, it has a greater ability of pulling electrons towards itself, making it a strong oxidizer. Therefore a negative standard potential is essentially saying the electrode has a weaker ability to bring electrons towards itself, making it strongly reducing.