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rockinrack
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If I want to find the standard ΔG for a reaction in an electrochemical cell, I can use the equation ΔG° =-nFE° where n is the number of moles transferred, F is Faraday's constant, and E° is the standard emf of the cell. If I know the standard reduction potentials of the redox reactions happening in each half-cell, I can calculate the standard emf with the equation E°cell=E°reduction, anode-E°reduction, cathode. Standard reduction potentials are calculated under standard conditions, so all concentrations are at 1 molar. Now, consider the redox reaction:
2Fe3+ + 2Cl- ---> 2Fe2+ + Cl2
The two half reactions are:
2Fe3+ + 2e- ---> 2Fe2+
2Cl----> Cl2 + 2e-
So if I calculate E°cell and want to use it to find ΔG°, I just have to determine the value of n, the number of moles of electrons transferred, and plug the values into ΔG° =-nFE°cell. Two electrons are transferred in the balanced equation above, so I could understand using n=2. However, this is the number of moles of electrons transferred for every 2 moles of Fe3+ and Cl- that react, as you can see from the equation. I am trying to calculate the standard ΔG, in which all concentrations are 1 molar, so n=1, correct? 1 mole of electrons is transferred for every one mole of Fe3+ and Cl- that react, and since we are dealing with concentrations of 1 molar, the "concentration" of electrons being transferred is 1 molar (I put concentration in quotes because the electrons themselves are dissolved in solution, but I refer to the number of moles in terms of concentration just to make my point clear.
So does anyone know if n should be 1 or 2? Thanks!
2Fe3+ + 2Cl- ---> 2Fe2+ + Cl2
The two half reactions are:
2Fe3+ + 2e- ---> 2Fe2+
2Cl----> Cl2 + 2e-
So if I calculate E°cell and want to use it to find ΔG°, I just have to determine the value of n, the number of moles of electrons transferred, and plug the values into ΔG° =-nFE°cell. Two electrons are transferred in the balanced equation above, so I could understand using n=2. However, this is the number of moles of electrons transferred for every 2 moles of Fe3+ and Cl- that react, as you can see from the equation. I am trying to calculate the standard ΔG, in which all concentrations are 1 molar, so n=1, correct? 1 mole of electrons is transferred for every one mole of Fe3+ and Cl- that react, and since we are dealing with concentrations of 1 molar, the "concentration" of electrons being transferred is 1 molar (I put concentration in quotes because the electrons themselves are dissolved in solution, but I refer to the number of moles in terms of concentration just to make my point clear.
So does anyone know if n should be 1 or 2? Thanks!