Electrochemistry

[yellowjellybean]

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Hey guys,

So in the electrochemistry chapter, it says the reaction is spontaneous if Q is less than K. Isn't it also if Q is greater than K because Q just wants to get to K? Or am I getting this confused with stuff from thermodynamics? Thanks.

 

[sciencebooks]

Hey guys,

So in the electrochemistry chapter, it says the reaction is spontaneous if Q is less than K. Isn't it also if Q is greater than K because Q just wants to get to K? Or am I getting this confused with stuff from thermodynamics? Thanks.

I believe that if Q>K, then there are already too many products and it would no longer be spontaneous in the forward direction.

 

[LoLCareerGoals]

Spontaneity from electrochemical perspective is related to sign of delta E. If dE>0, the process is spontaneous. K and Q relation is a chemical equilibrium perspective and is correctly explained in the post above.

From el-chem side of things It depends on sign of dE:
dE = dEnot - (RT/nF)*lnQ
>0 ->spontaneous.

 

[sciencebooks]

Spontaneity from electrochemical perspective is related to sign of delta E. If dE>0, the process is spontaneous. K and Q relation is a chemical equilibrium perspective and is correctly explained in the post above.

From el-chem side of things It depends on sign of dE:
dE = dEnot - (RT/nF)*lnQ
>0 ->spontaneous.

Lol, I totally failed to even address that. Should probably work on not forgetting to considering the first part of a question when answering for MCAT, 😉.