Electrolysis to drive non-spontaneous reactions

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Michelle Lee 2E
Posts: 64
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:01 am

Electrolysis to drive non-spontaneous reactions

Postby Michelle Lee 2E » Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:07 pm

If the reverse reaction is non-spontaneous for a redox reaction, does electrolysis have to occur to drive that process? Is it right to think that in order to drive a non-spontaneous reaction, that probably has a negative E(naught), electrolysis is required?
Also, do all non-spontaneous reactions have a negative E(naught)?

Sungyoon_Baek_1A
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Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:06 am
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Re: Electrolysis to drive non-spontaneous reactions

Postby Sungyoon_Baek_1A » Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:22 pm

All non spontaneous does have a negative cell potential because delta G must be positive for non spontaneous reactions and since delta G = -nFE, E must be negative in order for deltaG to be positive. In order to drive any any non spontaneous redox reaction, we must use an elective current to drive that reaction (electrolysis). There needs to be a current supply in order to overcome the unfavorable reaction.


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