Shorthand Notation

[samanthaywu]

When galcantic cells are written in shorthand, do we need to include the Platinum / other substance that helps the reaction proceed when were deriving the half reactions and over equation?

[Ken_Cheng_2A]

You need to include platinum if one of the half reactions do not involve an electrode or a metal that can conduct electricity. We typically use platinum because it is inert, which means it won't interfere with the actual redox reactions. But if the thing being reduced/oxidized is a metal that can conduct electricity, then we use the metal solid as the electrode.