17.4: Potential, Free Energy, and Equilibrium

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Explain the relations between potential, free energy change, and equilibrium constants
• Perform calculations involving the relations between cell potentials, free energy changes, and equilibrium
• Use the Nernst equation to determine cell potentials under nonstandard conditions

So far in this chapter, the relationship between the cell potential and reaction spontaneity has been described, suggesting a link to the free energy change for the reaction (see chapter on thermodynamics). The interpretation of potentials as measures of oxidant strength was presented, bringing to mind similar measures of acid-base strength as reflected in equilibrium constants (see the chapter on acid-base equilibria). This section provides a summary of the relationships between potential and the related thermodynamic properties ΔG and K.

E° and ΔG°

The standard free energy change of a process, \(ΔG^°\), was defined in a previous chapter as the maximum work that could be performed by a system, \(w_{max}\). In the case of a redox reaction taking place within a galvanic cell under standard state conditions, essentially all the work is associated with transferring the electrons from reductant-to-oxidant, \(w_{elec}\):

\[\Delta G^{\circ}=w_{\max }=w_{\text {elec }} \nonumber \]

The work associated with transferring electrons is determined by the total amount of charge (coulombs) transferred and the cell potential:

\[\Delta G^{\circ}=w_{\text {elec }}=-n F E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ} \nonumber \]

where \(n\) is the number of moles of electrons transferred, \(F\) is Faraday’s constant, and \(E^°_{cell}\) is the standard cell potential. The relation between free energy change and standard cell potential confirms the sign conventions and spontaneity criteria previously discussed for both of these properties: spontaneous redox reactions exhibit positive potentials and negative free energy changes.

E° and K

Combining a previously derived relation between ΔG° and K (see the chapter on thermodynamics) and the equation above relating ΔG° and E°_cell yields the following:

\[\Delta G^{\circ}=-R T \ln K=-n F E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ} \label{eq1} \]

with

\[E_{\text {coll }}^{\circ}=\left(\frac{R T}{n F}\right) \ln K \nonumber \]

This equation indicates redox reactions with large (positive) standard cell potentials will proceed far towards completion, reaching equilibrium when the majority of reactant has been converted to product. A summary of the relations between E°, ΔG° and K is depicted in Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\), and a table correlating reaction spontaneity to values of these properties is provided in Table \(\PageIndex{1}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Graphic depicting the relation between three important thermodynamic properties.

Table \(\PageIndex{1}\)

K	ΔG°	E°cell	Comment
> 1	< 0	> 0	Reaction is spontaneous under standard conditions Products more abundant at equilibrium
< 1	> 0	< 0	Reaction is non-spontaneous under standard conditions Reactants more abundant at equilibrium
= 1	= 0	= 0	Reaction is at equilibrium under standard conditions Reactants and products equally abundant

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\): Equilibrium Constants, Standard Cell Potentials, and Standard Free Energy Changes

Use data from Appendix L to calculate the standard cell potential, standard free energy change, and equilibrium constant for the following reaction at 25 °C. Comment on the spontaneity of the forward reaction and the composition of an equilibrium mixture of reactants and products.

\[\ce{2 Ag^{+}(aq) + Fe(s) <=> 2 Ag(s) + Fe^{2+}(aq)} \nonumber \]

Solution

The reaction involves an oxidation-reduction reaction, so the standard cell potential can be calculated using the data in Appendix L.

\[\begin{align*}
& \text { anode: } \quad && \ce{Fe(s) -> Fe^{2+}(aq) + 2 e^{-}} &&E^o_{\ce{Fe^{2+}/Fe}} =-0.447\,\text{V}\\[4pt]
& \text {cathode: } \quad && \ce{2 \times (Ag^{+}(aq) + e^{-} -> Ag(s))} &&E^o_{\ce{Ag^{+}/Ag}} = +0.7996\,\text{V}\\[4pt]
\hline &\text { cell: } \quad && \ce{Fe(s) + 2Ag^{+}(aq) -> Fe^{2+}(aq) + 2Ag(s)} && E^o_{\text {cell }} = +1.2247\,\text{V}
\end{align*} \nonumber \]

with

\[E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ}=E_{\text {cathode }}^{\circ}-E_{\text {anode }}^{\circ}= E^o_{\ce{Fe^{2+}/Fe}} - E^o_{\ce{Ag^{+}/Ag}} = +1.2247\,\text{V} \nonumber \]

With \(n = 2\), the equilibrium constant is then

\[\begin{aligned}
E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ} &=\frac{0.0592 V }{n} \log K \\[4pt]
K&=10^{n \times E_{\text {cal }}^o / 0.0592 V } \\[4pt]
&=10^{2 \times 1.247 V / 0.0592 V } \\[4pt]
&=10^{42.128} \\[4pt]
&=1.3 \times 10^{42}
\end{aligned} \nonumber \]

The standard free energy is then Equation \ref{eq1}

\[\begin{aligned}
& \Delta G^{\circ}=-n F E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ} \\
& =-2 \times 96,485 \frac{ C }{ mol } \times 1.247 \frac{ J }{ C }=-240.6 \frac{ kJ }{ mol }
\end{aligned} \nonumber \]

The reaction is spontaneous, as indicated by a negative free energy change and a positive cell potential. The K value is very large, indicating the reaction proceeds to near completion to yield an equilibrium mixture containing mostly products.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

What is the standard free energy change and the equilibrium constant for the following reaction at room temperature? Is the reaction spontaneous?

\[\ce{Sn(s) + 2 Cu^{2+}(aq) <=> Sn^{2+}(aq) + 2 Cu^{+}(aq)} \nonumber \]

Answer

Spontaneous

\(n = 2\)

\(E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ}=+0.291 V\)

\([\Delta G^{\circ}=-56.2 \frac{ kJ }{ mol }\)

K = 6.8 10⁹.

Potentials at Nonstandard Conditions: The Nernst Equation

Most of the redox processes that interest science and society do not occur under standard state conditions, and so the potentials of these systems under nonstandard conditions are a property worthy of attention. Having established the relationship between potential and free energy change in this section, the previously discussed relation between free energy change and reaction mixture composition can be used for this purpose.

\[\Delta G=\Delta G^{\circ}+R T \ln Q \nonumber \]

Notice the reaction quotient, Q, appears in this equation, making the free energy change dependent upon the composition of the reaction mixture. Substituting the equation relating free energy change to cell potential yields the Nernst equation:

\[\begin{align*}
-n F E_{\text {cell }}&=-n F E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ}+R T \ln Q \\[4pt]
E_{\text {cell }}&=E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ}-\frac{R T}{n F} \ln Q
\end{align*} \nonumber \]

This equation describes how the potential of a redox system (such as a galvanic cell) varies from its standard state value, specifically, showing it to be a function of the number of electrons transferred, n, the temperature, T, and the reaction mixture composition as reflected in Q. A convenient form of the Nernst equation for most work is one in which values for the fundamental constants (R and F) and standard temperature (298) K), along with a factor converting from natural to base-10 logarithms, have been included:

\[E_{\text {cell }}=E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ}-\frac{0.0592 V }{n} \log Q \label{Nernst at room temperature} \]

Example \(\PageIndex{2}\): Predicting Redox Spontaneity Under Nonstandard Conditions

Use the Nernst equation to predict the spontaneity of the redox reaction shown below at room temperature.

\[\ce{Co(s)} + \ce{Fe^{2+}} \text{(aq, 1.94 M)} \longrightarrow \ce{Co^{2+}}\text{(aq, 0.15 M)} + \ce{Fe (s)} \nonumber \]

Solution

Collecting information from Appendix L and the problem,

\[\begin{align*}
& \text { anode: } \quad && \ce{Co(s) -> Co^{2+}(aq) + 2 e^{-}} &&E^o_{\ce{Co^{2+}/Co}} =-0.28\,\text{V}\\[4pt]
& \text {cathode: } \quad && \ce{Fe^{2+}(aq) + 2 e^{-} -> Fe(s)} &&E^o_{\ce{Fe^{+}/Fe}} = -0.447\,\text{V}\\[4pt]
\hline &\text { cell: } \quad && \ce{Co(s) + Fe^{2+}(Aq) -> Fe(s) + Co^{2+}(aq)} && E^o_{\text {cell }} = -0.17\,\text{V}
\end{align*} \nonumber \]

with

\[E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ}=E_{\text {cathode }}^{\circ}-E_{\text {anode }}^{\circ}=-0.447 V -(-0.28 V )=-0.17 V \nonumber \]

Notice the negative value of the standard cell potential indicates the process is not spontaneous under standard conditions. Substitution of the Nernst equation terms for the nonstandard conditions requires calculating the reaction quotient \(Q\)

\[Q =\frac{\left[\ce{Co^{2+}}\right]}{\left[\ce{Fe^{2+}}\right]}=\dfrac{0.15 M}{1.94 M}=0.077 \nonumber \]

them \(Q\) and \(n\) are substituted into Equation \red{Nernst at room temperature}

\[\begin{aligned}
E_{\text {cell }} & =E_{\text {cell }}^{\circ}-\frac{0.0592 \,\text{V} }{n} \log Q \\[4pt]
& =-0.17 \,\text{V} -\frac{0.0592 \,\text{V} }{2} \log 0.077 \\[4pt]
& =-0.17 \,\text{V} +0.033 \,\text{V} \\[4pt]
&=-0.14\,\text{V}
\end{aligned} \nonumber \]

The cell potential remains negative (slightly) under the specified conditions, and so the reaction remains nonspontaneous.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

For the cell schematic below at room temperature, identify values for n and Q, and calculate the cell potential, E_cell.

\[\ce{Al(s)} | \ce{Al^{3+}}\text{(aq, 0.15 M)} | \ce{Cu^{2+}}\text{(aq, 0.025 M)} | \ce{Cu(s)} \nonumber \]

Answer

n = 6; Q = 1440; E_cell = +1.97 V, spontaneous.

A concentration cell is constructed by connecting two nearly identical half-cells, each based on the same half-reaction and using the same electrode, varying only in the concentration of one redox species. The potential of a concentration cell, therefore, is determined only by the difference in concentration of the chosen redox species. The example problem below illustrates the use of the Nernst equation in calculations involving concentration cells.

Example \(\PageIndex{3}\): Concentration Cells

What is the cell potential of the concentration cell operating at room temperature described by

\[\ce{Zn(s)} | \ce{Zn^{2+}}\text{(aq, 0.10 M)} | \ce{Zn^{2+}} \text{(aq, 0.50 M)} | \ce{Zn(s)} \nonumber \]

Solution

From the information given:

\[\begin{align*}
& \text { anode: } \quad && \ce{Zn(s) -> Zn^{2+}}\text{(aq, 0.10 M)} + \ce{2 e^{-}} &&E^o_{\ce{Co^{2+}/Co}} =-0.7618\,\text{V}\\[4pt]
& \text {cathode: } \quad && \ce{Zn^{2+}}\text{(aq, 0.50 M)} + \ce{2 e^{-} -> Zn(s)} &&E^o_{\ce{Fe^{+}/Fe}} = -0,7618\,\text{V}\\[4pt]
\hline &\text { cell: } \quad && \ce{\cancel{Zn(s)}} + \ce{Zn^{2+}} \text{(aq, 0.50 M)} \ce{-> Zn^{2+}}\text{(aq, 0.10 M)} + \cancel{\ce{Zn(s)}} && E^o_{\text {cell }} = 0\,\text{V}
\end{align*} \nonumber \]

Substituting into the Nernst equation (Equation \ref{Nernst at room temperature}),

\[E_{\text {cell }}=0.000\,\text{V} -\frac{0.0592\,\text{V} }{2} \log \dfrac{0.10}{0.50} = +0.021\, \text{V} \nonumber \]

The positive value for cell potential indicates the overall cell reaction (see above) is spontaneous. This spontaneous reaction is one in which the zinc ion concentration in the cathode falls (it is reduced to elemental zinc) while that in the anode rises (it is produced by oxidation of the zinc anode). A greater driving force for zinc reduction is present in the cathode, where the zinc(II) ion concentration is greater (E_cathode > E_anode).

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

The concentration cell above was allowed to operate until the cell reaction reached equilibrium at room temperature. What are the cell potential and the concentrations of zinc(II) in each half-cell for the cell now?

Answer

E_cell = 0.000 V; [Zn²⁺]_cathode = [Zn²⁺]_anode = 0.30 M