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Calculating Standard Cell Potential

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 2:46 pm
by PeterTran1C
Just for confirmation, there are two ways to calculate the standard cell potential.
For example if you were given the following:
A --> A+1 + 1e- E = 0.70 V
B --> B+2 + 2e- E= -0.20 V

You can calculate the standard cell potential by determining that the highest E value will be the cathode and the other will be the anode. With this information you can do Standard Cell Potential = E(cathode) - E(anode).

OR

You can flip the oxidizing reaction, hence flipping the sign of the E value for that reaction, and then adding up all the cell potentials to get the standard cell potential.

With both ways, you should get the same answer right?

Re: Calculating Standard Cell Potential

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 2:48 pm
by Adrienne Dang 1B
Yes exactly! You should get the same answer for both methods, it just depends on which method you prefer (I personally prefer using Ecell=Ecathode-Eanode just because it's easier for me)

Re: Calculating Standard Cell Potential

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 7:57 pm
by Patricia Macalalag 2E
Yes!! This was very helpful