Question

I know that many substances have their own standard electrode potential and they can be arranged in he electrochemical series. For example, the standard electrode potential of iron is -0.440V.

Since organic compounds can also undergo redox reactions,like the oxidation of alcohols, I would like to know whether organic compounds have their own standard electrode potentials as well.

Answer 1

Yes, organic compounds can have standard electrode potentials, which indicate their propensity to undergo reduction or oxidation in redox reactions, similar to inorganic substances. Measured against the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE), these values aid in understanding the organic compounds' behavior in redox processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Indeed, organic compounds can have their own standard electrode potentials, much like inorganic substances do. These potentials are essential for understanding and predicting the outcomes of organic redox reactions, such as the oxidation of alcohols. However, measuring and tabulating electrode potentials for organic compounds can be more challenging due to the variety of reactions and conditions under which they may occur. Yet, standard electrode potentials for some organic redox reactions are known and can be used analogously to those of inorganic reactions.

The standard electrode potential for any half-reaction, whether organic or inorganic, is measured relative to the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) which has a potential of 0 V under standard conditions. By convention, electrode potentials are given for reduction processes. A positive value indicates a strong tendency to gain electrons (act as an oxidizing agent), while a negative value indicates a weaker tendency (acting as a reducing agent). When discussing organic compounds, it is the same: their standard electrode potentials indicate their propensity to undergo reduction or oxidation in the context of redox reactions.