Chemistry - A Molecular Science

11.0 Introduction

11.6 Common Batteries

11.1 Electron Transfer or Redox Reactions

11.7 Corrosion

11.2 Half-Reactions

11.8 Electrolytic Cells

11.3 Galvanic Cells

11.9 Chapter Summary and Objectives

11.4 Standard Reduction Potentials

11.10 Exercises

11.5 Writing Redox Reactions

Chapter 11 Electron Transfer And Electrochemistry

11.0

INTRODUCTION Electron transfer reactions, reactions in which electrons are transferred from one reactant to another, constitute one of the broadest and most important classes of reactions in chemistry. This should not be too surprising

when we consider the central role of the

electron in chemistry. All reactions that involve oxygen, such as combustion and corrosion of metals, are electron transfer reactions.

Biological processes, such as photosynthesis,

respiration, and the breakdown of food molecules, are connected sequences of complex, electron transfer reactions that serve to tr

ansport and utilize energy received from the sun.

Batteries extract the free energy from electr

on transfer reactions. In this chapter, we

introduce this important field of study. THE OBJECTIVES OF CHAPTER 11 ARE TO: •

explain the electron transfer process and define

the terms associated with redox reactions;

(^) •
describe galvanic cells;
(^) •
explain how balanced chemical equations ar
e written for electron transfer reactions;
(^) •
show how to calculate standard cell potentials
and how to use them to predict whether a redox
process is extensive;
(^) •
describe some common batteries;
(^) •
explain the process of corrosion; and
(^) •
describe electrolytic cells.
Chapter 11 Electron Transfer and Electrochemistry