## Value of n

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

Henry Krasner 1C
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:15 am

### Value of n

Is n the difference in the number of moles on each side, or the number of electrons on each side of an equation?

Mindy Kim 4C
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:25 am

### Re: Value of n

n represents how many electrons are being transferred in the reaction. The value should be the same whether you are looking at the oxidation or reduction half reactions as the number of electrons should be the same if the half reactions are balanced.

Danny Elias Dis 1E
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am

### Re: Value of n

It is important to keep in mind that n as the number of electrons only applies to the equation deltaG = -nFE, deltaG° = -nFE°, or Wmax = -nFE (these are the only equations from class). When using n in other equation such as the ideal gas law (PV = nRT), n is the number of moles.

beckyolmedo1G
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:21 am

### Re: Value of n

In order to find n (the number of electrons transferred) write down both half reactions and balance them. You always want to make sure that the number of electrons being transferred is the same amount for both half reactions.

Jasmine Chow 1F
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### Re: Value of n

Once the redox reaction is balanced you should have an equal number of electrons on both sides of the equation. That will be the n value. There can only be one value for n. If you think you have two then you did not balance your redox equations correctly.

Nina Do 4L
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:27 am

### Re: Value of n

After you create your two half reactions, you need to balance the amount of electrons in order to combine the reaction into one. In the process of balancing out the amount of electrons, you find your number of moles of electrons. It is the number of e- you used to balance the reaction.

Angela Cong 3C
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:25 am

### Re: Value of n

Sometimes there are cases where you simplify the balanced redox reaction, would n be the number of moles before simplification or would it be the number of moles after simplification?

Jeannine 1I
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:27 am

### Re: Value of n

Angela Cong 3C wrote:Sometimes there are cases where you simplify the balanced redox reaction, would n be the number of moles before simplification or would it be the number of moles after simplification?

In a redox reaction, you would look at the half-reactions you used to cancel out the electrons before you formed the balanced redox reaction. The cancelled out electrons are the number of electrons transferred, and so that would be the value n!