URGENT!! HELP!!
If EMF of a cell is negative, does electronic current flow through cell?? Explain.

Question

URGENT!! HELP!!
If EMF of a cell is negative, does electronic current flow through cell?? Explain.

anonymous · Answer

as long as we have a close circuit... current will flow... the direction of current depends on our convention... if we have negative to positive... we have electron flow... the conventional current flow is from positive to negative...

aaronq · Answer

Agreed, it will flow in the backwards direction though.

$\Delta G=-nF\xi$     when $\xi<0$      $\Delta G=+nF\xi$

$\Delta G>0$ satisfies the criterion for non-spontaneity in a chemical reaction, so the electron flow will not be in the direction that the cell is meant to be set up.