## Spontaneity in Cells

$\Delta G^{\circ} = -nFE_{cell}^{\circ}$

505095793
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:25 am

### Spontaneity in Cells

Can you tell if a reaction is spontaneous based on the value of the standard cell potential?

WilliamNguyen_4L
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:28 am

### Re: Spontaneity in Cells

If the standard cell potential is positive it is spontaneous.

Luc Lorain 1L
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:18 am

### Re: Spontaneity in Cells

We can derive Gibbs free energy (our primary means of calculating the spontaneity of a reaction) through cell potential by using the following formula:

$\Delta G^{\circ}_{cell}=-nFE^{\circ}$

If Eo is negative, then $\Delta G^{\circ}_{cell}$ will be positive, and therefore non-spontaneous (F is a positive constant and n is given as a positive integer value multiplied by negative one; two negatives times one positive --> positive solution).
Concersely, if Eo is positive, then $\Delta G^{\circ}_{cell}$ will be negative, and therefore spontaneous (one negative times two positives --> positive solution).

Return to “Work, Gibbs Free Energy, Cell (Redox) Potentials”

### Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest