Predicting Redox Reactions

This is a further use to which a table of redox potentials may be put. To do this you need to adopt a specific protocol, which once mastered is easy to follow.

Start by reading the question carefully and combine the two couples in the way instructed by the question. DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE E VALUES AT THIS STAGE! Remember, as usual, that you must ensure the same number of electrons in each half equation before they can be added. Once the redox equation is constructed, look at the E values and calculate the EMF for the reaction you have written. If it is positive, the cell reaction is spontaneous IN THE FORWARD sense, but of course you do NOT know the rate. The reaction may just be too slow to be useful as a means of extracting a current. On the other hand if it turns out to be negative, the reaction will not proceed forward at all.

Remember that the values are determined at some very precise conditions of T and P and concentration. Thus, the prediction is also only valid under these conditions. This means that a slow reaction, or one for which E<0 can be encouraged to move forward by changing the conditions; heating it up or using concentrated solutions. You are a resourceful chemist...so don't take NO for an answer!