190k views
1 vote
Calculate the theoretical potential of the following cells.

Pt, H2 (1.00atm) | NH3 (0.400M), NH₄⁺ (0.200M) || SHE

User Kubas
by
6.9k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

To calculate the theoretical potential of the cell involving SHE and ammonia/ammonium half-cell, we need the half-cell potential for the latter, which is not provided.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the theoretical potential of the given cell that includes the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE), we need to know the reaction and the corresponding half-cell potential. The reaction at the anode can be represented as the oxidation of hydrogen:


2H2(g) → 4H+(aq) + 4e-

The given cell involves ammonia and ammonium ions, so the reaction at the cathode involves the reduction of ammonium ions to ammonia and hydrogen:

NH4+(aq) + e- → NH3(aq) + ½ H2(g)

The standard potential of SHE is 0 V. However, the exact potential for the ammonia/ammonium half-cell is not given here, but it would be derived from experimental data.

For the purpose of this example, assuming we have a standard potential for the ammonia/ammonium reaction, we would use the formula:

Ecell = Ecathode - Eanode

With SHE as the reference, Eanode is 0 V, so the cell potential would simply be the standard potential of the ammonia/ammonium half-cell.

Without the exact potential for the ammonia/ammonium half-cell, a theoretical potential cannot be determined.

User Friggle
by
7.8k points