A redox reaction consists of two half reactions – an oxidation and a reduction reaction.
If we take a pair of half reactions we can use the standard electrode potential, E⦵, for each to determine which will form the oxidation half cell and which will form the reduction half cell. If we know this we can predict the direction / feasibility of the reaction.
The key is that the more positive of the two E⦵ will always form the reduction half cell and the more negative will always form the oxidation half cell.
E.g. Could Cu(s) reduce I2(aq)?
- Use a data table to look up the half reaction and E⦵ for copper and iodine

- The E⦵ data tells us that Cu will be oxidised to Cu2+ and I2 will be reduced to 2I–
- The answer is YES! Cu(s) will reduce I2(aq)
Cu(s) + I2(aq) ⇾ Cu2+(aq) + 2I–(aq)
E.g. Could Fe2+(aq) reduce Zn2+(aq)?
- Use a data table to look up the half reaction and E⦵ for iron(II) ions and zinc

- The E⦵ data tells us that Fe3+ will be reduced to Fe2+ and Zn will be oxidised to Zn2+
- The reaction that would occur is
Fe3+(aq) + Zn(s) ⇾ Fe2+(aq) + Zn2+(aq)
- The answer is NO! Fe2+(aq) cannot reduce Zn2+(aq). The reaction can only proceed in the direction shown in the equation above.
If we predict that a reaction is feasible, it may in reality have an exceptionally slow rate of reaction due to a high activation enthalpy (in which case a catalyst may be helpful). If we predict that a redox reaction is not feasible, there’s nothing we can do – electrons will never flow spontaneously from a more positive potential to a less positive one.
If you are not yet that confident writing redox equations from half equations, then start here 😊.
Practice questions
- Use the standard electrode data in the table below to write a balanced overall equation for the reactions that happen when the following half cells are connected:
(i) I2(aq) / 2I–(aq) and Cr2O72- (aq) / Cr3+(aq)
(ii) Fe3+(aq) / Fe2+(aq) and H2O2(aq) / 2H2O(l)
(iii) IO3–(aq) / ½I2(aq) and Br2(aq) / 2Br–(aq)
Half reaction | E⦵ / V |
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Cr2O72- (aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e- ⇌ 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) | + 1.36 |
Fe3+(aq) + e- ⇌ Fe2+(aq) | + 0.77 |
Cl2(g) + 2e- ⇌ 2Cl–(aq) | + 1.36 |
I2(aq) + 2e- ⇌ 2I–(aq) | + 0.54 |
Br2(aq) + 2e- ⇌ 2Br–(aq) | + 1.07 |
H2O2(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e- ⇌ 2H2O(l) | + 1.78 |
IO3–(aq) + 6H+(aq) + 5e- ⇌ ½I2(aq) + 3H2O(l) | + 1.19 |
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- A student plans to oxidise chloride ions to chlorine with iodate(V) ions. Explain whether this redox reaction is feasible with respect to the standard electrode data.
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- A sample of a nickel-copper alloy was dipped in sulphuric acid. Use the standard electrode potential data below to predict and explain what happened.
2H+(aq) + 2e- ⇌ H2(g) | E⦵ = 0.00 V |
Ni2+(aq) + 2e- ⇌ Ni(s) | E⦵ = -0.25 V |
Cu2+(aq) + 2e- ⇌ Cu(s) | E⦵ = +0.34 V |
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- Use the electrochemical data below to identify an acid that is able to oxidise copper. Explain your reasoning and write an equation for the redox reaction that occurs.
2H+(aq) + 2e- ⇌ H2(g) | E⦵ = 0.00 V |
SO42-(aq) + 4H+(aq) + 2e- ⇌ SO2(g) + 2H2O(l) | E⦵ = +0.17 V |
Cu2+(aq) + 2e- ⇌ Cu(s) | E⦵ = +0.34 V |
NO3-(aq) + 4H+(aq) + 3e- ⇌ NO(aq) + 2H2O(l) | E⦵ = +0.96 V |
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- With reference to the standard electrode data below, explain why zinc reacts with acidified chromate(VI) ions to form chromium(II) ions in two steps. Write a fully balanced equation for each reaction that occurs.
Zn2+(aq) + 2e- ⇌ Zn(s) | E⦵ = -0.76 V |
Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e- ⇌ 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) | E⦵ = +1.33 V |
Cr3+(aq) + e- ⇌ Cr2+(aq) | E⦵ = -0.42 V |
Answers
- (i) Cr2O72- (aq) + 6I–(aq) + 14H+(aq) ⇌ 2Cr3+(aq) + I2(aq) + 7H2O(l)
(ii) H2O2(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2Fe2+(aq) ⇌ 2H2O(l) + 2Fe3+(aq)
(iii) 2IO3–(aq) + 10Br–(aq) + 12H+(aq) ⇌ I2(aq) + 5Br2(aq) + 6H2O(l)
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- The planned oxidation of chloride ions is not feasible because the IO3–(aq) / ½I2(aq) half cell has a less positive standard electrode potential than the Cl2(g) / 2Cl–(aq) half cell. This means that the IO3–(aq) / ½I2(aq) half cell will be the oxidation half cell and the Cl2(g) / 2Cl–(aq) half cell will be the reduction half cell.
EXAM TIP: be careful with your wording! E⦵ belongs to a specified half cell, not an oxidising agent or H+ ions.
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- The Ni2+ / Ni half cell has a less positive E⦵ than the H+ / H2 half cell, so Ni will be oxidised to Ni2+ by the H+ from the acid. Ni2+ moves into solution. H+ ions cannot oxidise Cu to Cu2+ as the Cu2+ / Cu half cell has a more positive E⦵ than the H+ / H2 half cell.
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- For copper to be oxidised the Cu2+ / Cu half cell must have a less positive E⦵ than the E⦵ for the acid half cell. The NO3–, H+ / NO half cell has an E⦵ of + 0.96V compared with + 0.34V for the Cu2+ / Cu half cell, so nitric acid would oxidise copper.
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- In the first step, Zn reduces Cr2O72- to Cr3+ as the Zn2+ / Zn half cell has a less positive standard electrode potential compared with the Cr2O72-, H+ / Cr3+ half cell.
3Zn(s) + Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) ⇾ 3Zn2+ + 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)
In the second step, Zn reduces Cr3+ to Cr2+ as E⦵for the Cr3+ / Cr2+ half cell is more positive than the E⦵for the Zn2+ / Zn half cell.
Zn(s) + 2Cr3+(aq) ⇾ Zn2+(aq) + 2Cr2+(aq)