A redox reaction will not be spontaneous if the standard cell potential (E°) is negative, indicating that the reaction favors the reactants rather than the products. Additionally, high activation energy barriers, unfavorable temperature conditions, or the presence of competing reactions can also hinder spontaneity. In such cases, external energy input may be required to drive the reaction forward.
The reduction potential plus oxidation potential is negative.
The element with the greater reduction potential is the one that is reduced.
In an electrolytic cell, an external power source is needed to drive a non-spontaneous redox reaction, while in a voltaic cell, the redox reaction is spontaneous and generates electric energy. In an electrolytic cell, the anode is positive and the cathode is negative, whereas in a voltaic cell, the anode is negative and the cathode is positive.
A redox reaction is spontaneous when the overall change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG) is negative. This typically occurs when the standard electrode potentials of the half-reactions involved indicate a favorable direction for electron flow, resulting in a positive cell potential (E°). In simpler terms, a spontaneous redox reaction can occur without external energy input, driven by the inherent chemical properties of the reactants.
A positive cell potential indicates that the redox reaction is spontaneous under standard conditions. This means that the reactants have a higher free energy than the products, leading to a favorable reaction that can occur without external energy input. Additionally, it suggests that the reduction half-reaction has a greater tendency to gain electrons compared to the oxidation half-reaction losing them.
The sum of the voltages of the half-reactions is positive.
spontaneous redox reaction
For a redox reaction to be spontaneous, the standard cell potential (cell) must be positive.
. The reaction will be spontaneous.
A positive sum of the two half-reactions' standard potentials
The element with the greater reduction potential is the one that is reduced.
The reduction potential plus oxidation potential is negative.
The element with the greater reduction potential is the one that is reduced.
In an electrolytic cell, an external power source is needed to drive a non-spontaneous redox reaction, while in a voltaic cell, the redox reaction is spontaneous and generates electric energy. In an electrolytic cell, the anode is positive and the cathode is negative, whereas in a voltaic cell, the anode is negative and the cathode is positive.
A redox reaction is spontaneous when the overall change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG) is negative. This typically occurs when the standard electrode potentials of the half-reactions involved indicate a favorable direction for electron flow, resulting in a positive cell potential (E°). In simpler terms, a spontaneous redox reaction can occur without external energy input, driven by the inherent chemical properties of the reactants.
A positive cell potential indicates that the redox reaction is spontaneous under standard conditions. This means that the reactants have a higher free energy than the products, leading to a favorable reaction that can occur without external energy input. Additionally, it suggests that the reduction half-reaction has a greater tendency to gain electrons compared to the oxidation half-reaction losing them.
Spontaneous ...Happens all by itself; typically unpredictableNon-spontaneous...You have to do something to make it happen.