CHAPTER
16
Electrochemistry
IN THIS CHAPTER
Summary: Electrochemistry is the study of chemical reactions that produce
electricity, and chemical reactions that take place because electricity is supplied.
Electrochemical reactions may be of many types. Electroplating is an electrochem-
ical process. So are the electrolysis of water, the production of aluminum metal,
and the production and storage of electricity in batteries. All these processes involve
the transfer of electrons and redox reactions.
Keywords and Equations
A table of half-reactions is given in the exam booklet and in the back of this book.
I = current (amperes) q = charge (coulombs)
E° = standard reduction potential K = equilibrium constant
G° = standard free energy
Faraday’s constant, F = 96,500 coulombs per mole of electrons
Gas constant, R = 8.31 volt coulomb mol-^1 K–1
IK G° nFE°
q
t
nE°
==log ∆=−
0.0592
−−
→+
=ln=
0.0592
logat25°C
=[C][D]
[A][B]
whereaA+bB cC dD
cell °°cell cell
cd
ab
EE
RT
nF
QE
n
Q
Q
KEY IDEA
‹^243