Here is the NCERT Class 12 Chemistry-based explanation for the Measurement of Electrode Potential:



---


📘 Measurement of Electrode Potential (Class 12 – Chapter: Electrochemistry)


🔹 What is being measured?


The electrode potential of a half-cell cannot be measured directly. Instead, it is always measured relatively by comparing it to a reference electrode, which is the:


> ✅ Standard Hydrogen Electrode (SHE), assigned a value of 0.00 V.





---


🔹 Standard Hydrogen Electrode (SHE)


Components:


Platinum electrode coated with platinum black


Dipped in 1 M HCl (H⁺ ions)


Hydrogen gas at 1 atm pressure is bubbled over it



Half-cell Reaction:


\text{2H}^+(aq) + 2e^- \rightleftharpoons \text{H}_2(g)


SHE serves as the reference electrode for measuring other electrodes.



---


🔹 Measurement Process (NCERT Style):


1. Set up a galvanic cell by connecting the unknown electrode (whose potential you want to measure) with SHE.



2. Measure the EMF (electromotive force) of the cell using a voltmeter.



3. Connect the positive terminal of the voltmeter to the cathode.



4. Determine the electrode potential of the unknown electrode using:




E_{\text{cell}} = E^\circ_{\text{right}} - E^\circ_{\text{left}}


E_{\text{cell}} = E^\circ_{\text{unknown electrode}} - 0.00

   \Rightarrow E^\circ_{\text{unknown}} = E_{\text{cell}}



---


🔹 Example:


If you connect a zinc electrode (Zn/Zn²⁺) with SHE:


The voltmeter reads –0.76 V


That means the zinc electrode is more negative than SHE


Therefore, E°(Zn²⁺/Zn) = –0.76 V




---


🔹 Diagram (from NCERT):


A simple electrochemical cell with:


One side: SHE


Other side: Metal electrode (e.g., Zn)


Salt bridge


Voltmeter showing EMF



(You can find this figure in NCERT Chemistry Class 12 Chapter 3)



---


🔹 Summary Points (as per NCERT):


Electrode potentials are relative values, not absolute


SHE is the universal reference electrode


Standard electrode potentials are measured under standard conditions




---


Would you like a labeled diagram or explanation of how to construct the galvanic cell for measurement?



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Faraday's First Law of Electrolysis (Chemistry, Class 12):

What is electromotive force in Chemistry class 12th

What is means of isolated gaseous atom