Question

Fill in the blanks. The electrode potential of standard hydrogen electrode is assigned a value of ___ .

Short answer

Answer: The electrode potential of the standard hydrogen electrode is assigned a value of 0 volts (0 V).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the standard hydrogen electrode potential value

The standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) is used as a reference electrode with an assigned potential value. The value of the potential for the SHE is 0 volts (V).

Fill in the blank

Now that we know the standard hydrogen electrode potential value, we can fill in the blank with the correct value. The standard hydrogen electrode potential value is 0 V. So, the complete sentence is: "The electrode potential of standard hydrogen electrode is assigned a value of 0 volts (0 V)."

Key concepts

Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry is a fascinating branch of chemistry that involves the study of chemical processes that produce electrical currents and the movements of electrons in chemical reactions. It's the junction where chemistry meets electricity, and it encompasses a range of phenomena, such as battery operation, electrolysis, and corrosion.

At the heart of electrochemistry are redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions where the transfer of electrons occurs between two species. The fundamentals include understanding how these processes can be harnessed to generate electrical energy or how electrical energy can drive chemical transformations. An everyday example is the batteries in our devices, which are designed based on electrochemical principles to store and release energy through redox reactions.

Reference Electrode

In electrochemistry, a reference electrode serves as a pivotal point, providing a stable and known electrode potential against which other electrodes can be measured. It is akin to a benchmark or a 'gold standard' to ensure consistency in experimental conditions.

Importance of Stability

The key feature of a reference electrode is that its potential remains constant under various conditions, which means that any changes observed in the potential of the test electrode can be directly attributed to the properties of the test setup itself, not the reference electrode.

• The Standard Hydrogen Electrode (SHE).
• The Saturated Calomel Electrode (SCE).
• The Silver/Silver Chloride Electrode (Ag/AgCl).

The SHE, in particular, is widely accepted as the universal reference point for tabulating electrode potentials.

Electrode Potential

Electrode potential, also known as redox potential, is a measure of the tendency of a chemical species to acquire electrons and thereby be reduced. It is a critical concept in electrochemistry that quantifies an electrode's ability to drive an electric current through a circuit.

Determining Factors

Various factors such as the nature of the electrode, the concentration of ions in the solution, and the temperature, can influence the electrode potential. Knowing the electrode potential allows scientists and engineers to understand and predict the direction and spontaneity of redox reactions. By establishing a standard, such as the Standard Hydrogen Electrode (SHE) at 0 V, they have a reference point to compare the potentials of different electrodes and redox couples, facilitating a greater understanding of the electrochemical behaviour of different materials.