Cell Potential

[MaryBanh_2K]

The textbook's definition of cell potential is vague. Is it a measure of how much voltage or electrical energy a cell has? How does this relate to the half-reactions of redox reactions and oxidation? Is the electrical energy caused by the movement or the difference in electrons on both sides?

[Fiona Latifi 1A]

Cell potential is also known as cell voltage. It is used to measure the voltage difference in two halves of a cell.

[Ipsita Srinivas 1K]

The half redox reactions are related to the cell voltage in terms of the net loss and gain of electrons at the ends of the cell - in an electrochemical cell, the electrodes have the 'potential' to gain electrons (reduction potential); the difference in this potential determines which one will be an anode and which one will be a cathode; this difference is also the cell potential, measured in volts. This is physically represented by the loss of electrons from the cathode and gain of electrons by the anode, which are the half-redox reactions.

[Ipsita Srinivas 1K]

Electrical energy, or here, current flow is caused by the motion of electrons. The potential is determined by the electron difference.

[Mitchell Koss 4G]

And the potential will depend on the reaction, just as kinetic potential depends on size and distance.