Standard

 Hydrogen  Electrode  Presenta2on  

and  Interac2ve  Demonstra2on  

Department  of  Chemistry  &  Biochemistry  

University  of  Oregon  
Eugene,  Oregon  97403    USA  
 E0cell = standard cell potential

•  E0cell can  be  measured  directly  

•  In  this  zinc-­‐copper  cell  
•  E0cell is measured to be +1.10 V  

•  Can be calculated from standard electrode potential (E0half-cell)

for each half-reaction as given in the table

E0cell = E0cathode (reduction) – E0anode (oxidation)

But, how do we determine E0half-cell??

 Standard Reduction Potential
E° values are referenced to a standard
hydrogen electrode (SHE).

1.0  M  HCl(aq)  

•  The SHE half-cell consists of a glass tube, H2

gas at 1.0 atm, platinum electrode (inert, not
reacting, provides a surface for the H2 gas to
react), 1.0 M HCl at 25°C.
 Standard Hydrogen Electrode
When coupled with a less active
metal, the SHE can serve as an
anode. The oxidation half-reaction
is the oxidation of H2 to 2H+, the
potential difference = 0.0 Volts

H2(g, 1 atm) ⎯→ 2 H+(aq, 1M) + 2e- E° = 0.0 Volts

an  oxida2on  reac2on  
Best ox agent
hRps://www.google.com/search?biw=1146&bih=835&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=-­‐NVLWu_KEMqS0gKy74PwDA&q=Zinc+Standard
+Hydrogen+Electrode+electrochemical+cell+diagram&oq=Zinc+Standard+Hydrogen+Electrode+electrochemical+cell
+diagram&gs_l=psy-­‐ab.3...1183528.1194595.0.1194887.40.37.3.0.0.0.162.3297.29j7.36.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-­‐ab..
3.0.0....0.jb22KMCv9zs#imgrc=X7CrnyG_XG2I_M:  
Observe  the  computer  anima2on  

1.  Sketch  what  occurs  at  the    

surface  of  the  pla2num  electrode  

2.  Write  the  half-­‐reac2on  that  occurs  

at  the  surface  of  the  pla2num  electrode.  
 Standard Reduction Potentials
Anode  half-­‐reac2on:   H2(g)   2H+(aq)  +  2e-­‐            E°  =  0.0  V      

Cathode  half-­‐reac2on:   Cu2+(aq)  +  2e-­‐   Cu(s)                      E°  =  ?      V  

Overall  cell  reac2on:   H2(g)  +  Cu2+(aq)   2H+(aq)  +  Cu(s)    E°  =  +0.34  V  

The  standard  poten2al  of  a  cell  is  the  difference  of  the  standard  half-­‐cell  poten2als  as  
reduc2on  reac2ons  for  the  reduc2on  at  the  cathode  and  the  oxida2on  at  the  anode:  

Ecell
°     =   Ered
°     (cathode)  -­‐     Ered
°     (anode)  
+0.34  V    =  X    Cu2+/Cu  –  {0.0  V}    SHE  

The  measured  poten2al  for  this  cell:  E°cell  =  +0.34  V  

 E°cell is a Potential Difference
Between Two Half-Cells
The greater the difference
between the two half-cell
reactions, the greater the +0.40  V  
voltage of the cell. +0.34  V   Cu2+(aq)  +  2e-­‐   Cu(s)  

0.00   H2(g)   2H+(aq)  +  2e-­‐  

 Observe  the  computer  anima2on  

1.  Sketch  what  occurs  at  the     3.  Sketch  what  occurs  at  the    
surface  of  the  pla2num  electrode   surface  of  the  zinc  electrode  

2.  Write  the  half-­‐reac2on  that  occurs   4.  Write  the  half-­‐reac2on  that  occurs  
at  the  surface  of  the  pla2num  electrode.   at  the  surface  of  the  zinc  electrode.  
Cell  anima2on  of  a  zinc  SHE  cell  URL:        

hRps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ7gYg64Msc  
 Standard Hydrogen Electrode
We select as a standard half-
reaction the reduction of 2H+ to
H2 under standard conditions,
which we assign a potential
difference = 0.0 Volts

The  SHE  can  serve  as  a  cathode.  

2 H+(aq, 1M) + 2e- ⎯→ H2(g, 1 atm) E° = 0.0 Volts

a  reduc2on  reac2on  
Observe  the  computer  anima2on  

1.  Sketch  what  occurs  at  the    

surface  of  the  pla2num  electrode  

2.  Write  the  half-­‐reac2on  that  occurs  

at  the  surface  of  the  pla2num  electrode.  
 How to Calculate a Standard
Reduction Potential
Anode  half-­‐reac2on:   Zn(s)   Zn2+(aq)  +  2e-­‐   E°  =  ?      V  

Cathode  half-­‐reac2on:   2H+(aq)  +  2e-­‐   H2(g)   E°  =  0.0      V  

Overall  cell  reac2on:   Zn(s)  +  2H+(aq)   Zn2+(aq)  +  H2(g)   E°  =  +0.76  V  

Ecell
°     =   Ered
°     (cathode)  -­‐     Ered
°     (anode)  

+0.76  V  =      0.0  V  (SHE)    -­‐  {  x  }    Zn/Zn2+    

X  =  -­‐  0.76  V  

Zn(s)   Zn2+(aq)  +  2e-­‐   E°  =  0.76  V        oxida2on  

Zn2+(aq)  +  2e-­‐   Zn(s)   E°  =  -­‐0.76  V   As  a  standard  reduc2on  poten2al  

 E°cell is a Potential Difference
Between Two Half-Cells
The greater the difference
between the two half-cell
reactions, the greater the 0.00  V   H2(g)   2H+(aq)  +  2e-­‐  
voltage of the cell.

-­‐0.50  V  

-­‐0.76  V   Zn2+(aq)  +  2e-­‐   Zn(s)  

Determine  the  iden2ty  of  the  metal.  

E°cell  =  +2.37  V