How do you know a cell can do work?

[Baoying Li 1B]

What is required for a cell to do work?

[Rebekah Alfred 1J]

When E cell is equal to zero, the cell cannot do work.

[asannajust_1J]

For a cell to do work there must be a difference in cell potential. The maximum work a cell can do is equal to the difference in cell potentials.

[Mariah]

When E cell is equal to zero, the cell cannot do work.

So can the cell do work whether it is negative or positive?

[Long Luong 2H]

When E cell is equal to zero, the cell cannot do work.

So can the cell do work whether it is negative or positive?

The cell can do work spontaneously if E cell is positive. E cell can do work non-spontaneously in an electrolytic cell in which an external energy source supplies power.

[Tanmay Singhal 1H]

there has to be a difference in cell potential

[William Chan 1D]

There has to be some difference in the cell potential of both cells for it to do work.

[aishwarya_atmakuri]

A difference in cell potential (Ecell not Ecell naught) means the cell can do work.