Ch. 14 #13

[Elias Ruben 1O]

For part d., the cell diagram has solid gold as an electrode on the left side. Shouldn't this be Platinum, though? Can someone explain the answer to me please? I'm confused

[Mizuno_Mikaela_1D]

If there is a solid transition metal in the half-redox reaction, then the electrode will be that metal. In the problem you were referring to, gold is a transition metal and since it was solid gold, it is able to be the electrode. However, If there is not a solid transition metal, the electrode will be platinum. This is because transition metals are good conductors so if there is not a transition metal, you need something else for the electrode and that generally is platinum.