Chapter 21, Problem 21.4P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason why only water is used to balance the oxygen atoms in half reaction method but not with ${\text{O}}^{\text{2-}}$ has to be identified.

Concept Introduction:

Oxidation: The gain of oxygen or the loss of hydrogen or the loss of an electron in a species during a redox reaction is called as oxidation.

Reduction: The loss of oxygen or the gain of hydrogen or the gain of an electron in a species during a redox reaction is called as reduction.

Oxidizing agent: The substance that is oxidized is called as a reducing agent.

Reducing agent: The substance that is reduced is called as an oxidizing agent.

The standard cell potential for voltaic cell is determined by subtracting the electrode potential of cathode and the electrode potential of anode.

The negative cell potential of a redox reaction indicates that the reaction is not spontaneous which shows that the standard free energy should be less than 0. The reverse reaction of this will be definitely a spontaneous reaction with cell potential value greater than 0.