Question

Calculate the standard electrode potential for the reaction Ag+ (aq) + Cu (s) → Ag (s) + Cu2+ (aq) given that the standard electrode potentials for Ag+ (aq) + e- → Ag (s) and Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- → Cu (s) are 0.80 V and 0.34 V respectively.

Answer 1

To calculate the standard electrode potential for the given reaction, we need to determine the reduction and oxidation half-reactions. The given half-reactions are:1. Ag+  aq  + e-  Ag  s  with a standard electrode potential of 0.80 V  reduction 2. Cu2+  aq  + 2e-  Cu  s  with a standard electrode potential of 0.34 V  reduction We need to reverse the second half-reaction to make it an oxidation reaction:Cu  s   Cu2+  aq  + 2e- When we reverse the reaction, we also need to change the sign of the standard electrode potential:0.34 V becomes -0.34 V.Now, we can add the two half-reactions together:Ag+  aq  + e-  Ag  s Cu  s   Cu2+  aq  + 2e-The overall reaction is:Ag+  aq  + Cu  s   Ag  s  + Cu2+  aq To find the standard electrode potential for the overall reaction, we add the standard electrode potentials of the two half-reactions:0.80 V +  -0.34 V  = 0.46 VThe standard electrode potential for the reaction Ag+  aq  + Cu  s   Ag  s  + Cu2+  aq  is 0.46 V.