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

Question

bloomlocke367 · Answer

@amistre64

bloomlocke367 · Answer

@JFraser I'm not quite sure...

bloomlocke367 · Answer

@dan815

jfraser · Answer

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

bloomlocke367 · Answer

What do you mean? Can you explain?..

jfraser · Answer

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

bloomlocke367 · Answer

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

jfraser · Answer

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

bloomlocke367 · Answer

oh, okay. that makes sense.

bloomlocke367 · Answer

Can you help me with more?