Final answer:
Under standard conditions, H+ ions at the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) are capable of spontaneously oxidizing certain metals like zinc (Zn) while H₂ gas is reduced to H* at the platinum electrode.
Step-by-step explanation:
The standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) consists of an inert platinum electrode immersed in an aqueous solution containing 1 M H+ ions and a stream of H₂ gas at 1 atm pressure.
Under standard conditions, H+ ions at the SHE are capable of spontaneously oxidizing certain metals.
For example, H+ ions can oxidize metals like zinc (Zn) to form metal ions (Zn²+) while H₂ gas is reduced to H* at the platinum electrode.