Concept preview

What you will be able to do

1. 01Read the standard reduction potential table
2. 02Identify the strongest oxidizing and reducing agents
3. 03Calculate E°cell and predict whether a reaction is spontaneous

Every reduction half-reaction has a measurable tendency to occur, expressed as its standard reduction potential, E°, in volts. A large positive E° means the half-reaction has a strong tendency to proceed as a reduction (to gain electrons); a large negative E° means it has little such tendency and tends to run in reverse (as an oxidation). The standard reduction potential table lists half-reactions in order of E°, from the most positive at the top to the most negative at the bottom.