Question

Discuss two uses of the electrochemical series.

Thank you

Answer 1

Oxidizing and Reducing Strengths

The electrochemical series helps to pick out substances that are oxidizing agents and those which are good reducing agents.

For example, a very high negative reduction potential of lithium electrode indicates that it is very difficult to reduce Li⁺ ions to Li atoms. Therefore, Li⁺ cannot accept electrons easily and so loses electrons to behave as a reducing agent. As the reduction potential increases (negative value decreases), the tendency of the electrode to behave as reducing agent decreases. Thus, all the substances appearing on the top of the series behave as good reducing agents. For example Li and K are good reducing agents while F^- and Au are the poorest reducing agents.

Comparison of Reactivities of Metals

The relative ease with which the various species of metals and ions may be oxidized or reduced is indicated by the reduction potential values.