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what do the electrode potentials mean???

When the electrode potential is positive what does this mean in comparison to if the electrode potential is negative?? (ie electrode potential of a half cell connected to a standard hydrogen electrode)

Reply 1

Pigster

Positive means the equilibrium lies to the right.

Vice versa.

Bit of a simplification, but its a good start.

Reply 2

mobius323

The way I remember it is considering Lithium. Lithium is a VERY strong reducing agent. What does reducing agent mean? It means it gives an electron away. Consider Lithium - one valence electron, so it's prone to giving it away to form a complete outer shell.

It's electrode potential is -3.04V. Remember that electrode potentials are, in truth, standard REDUCTION potentials - they are the potential energy of REDUCTION so it's half equation is written as a Lithium cation gaining an electron. The negative value suggests it isn't a favourable process, so the opposite way around is very favourable - it's far more favourable for elemental Lithium to lose it's electron (E = +3.04 V).