Question

Is the cell potential the difference in reduction potentials of the half-cells or the difference in oxidation potentials of the half-cells?

Answer 1

@amistre64

Answer 2

@JFraser I'm not quite sure...

Answer 3

@dan815

Answer 4

for standard's sake, it's the difference in the \(reduction\) potentials, but it matters which order you do the subtraction in

Answer 5

What do you mean? Can you explain?..

Answer 6

if you subtract 5-3, do you get the same answer as when you subtract 3-5?

Answer 7

no. of course not. so how would you know which order you subtract?

Answer 8

the standard is \(reduction - oxidation\), so pick which half-reaction is actually occurring as a reduction, and that tells you what order to do the subtraction in

Answer 9

oh, okay. that makes sense.

Answer 10

Can you help me with more?