## N in Nernst Equation

$E_{cell} = E_{cell}^{\circ}-\frac{RT}{nF}\ln Q$

MichaelPenny1A
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 3:00 am

### N in Nernst Equation

Where does the n value in the Nernst equation come from? Most problems in the course reader that use the Nernst equation use an n value of 1 but question 3B from the 2011 final has n=2

Tiffany Chen 2E
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 3:00 am

### Re: N in Nernst Equation

The n in the Nernst equation stands for the transfer of electrons that were used in both balanced half-reactions of the anode and cathode. For #3B of the 2011 Final, the balanced half-reaction of the anode is 4OH- + MnO2 → MnO42- + 2H2O + 2e- while the balanced half-reaction of the cathode comes out to be ClO- + H2O + 2e- → Cl- + 2OH-. Thus, there are 2 e-s that are used throughout the entire redox equation.

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