Reduction/Oxidation potentials

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toothfairy05

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When you're given a table of E* for reduction potentials, is the largest (most postivie) always the most likely to be reduced?

If you're given a table of E* for oxidation potentials, is the smallest (most negative) always most likely to be oxidized?

Please correct me on this if I'm wrong....I'm a little confused about this since I never really learned this while taking Gen Chem.

Anyone can point me to a good tutorial online? Or just give me a good explanation of it.. it would be most appreciated. Thanks!
 
I think you are right. most positive=most easily reduced (it has to be on the same side as the electrons though because that is what reduction is). Most negative is oxidized if it is on the opposite side as the electrons.

GET CHAD'S VIDEOS!! He does a great job. He has a section just on OX/RED. Its the best $25 you will spend
 
I think you are right. most positive=most easily reduced (it has to be on the same side as the electrons though because that is what reduction is). Most negative is oxidized if it is on the opposite side as the electrons.

GET CHAD'S VIDEOS!! He does a great job. He has a section just on OX/RED. Its the best $25 you will spend

Thanks for the tip! 😀
 
When you're given a table of E* for reduction potentials, is the largest (most postivie) always the most likely to be reduced?

If you're given a table of E* for oxidation potentials, is the smallest (most negative) always most likely to be oxidized?

Please correct me on this if I'm wrong....I'm a little confused about this since I never really learned this while taking Gen Chem.

Anyone can point me to a good tutorial online? Or just give me a good explanation of it.. it would be most appreciated. Thanks!

This is a really good question, I was actually quite confused on this too. But my understanding is a bit different from yours and was hoping that maybe someone could clarify our confusion. This is my understanding of oxidation/reduction potentials:

If you're given a reduction potential, the more positive E gets reduced, while the more negative E gets oxidized

If you're given an oxidation potential, the more positive E gets oxidized, while the more negative E gets reduced

If someone can clarify this, that would be great!
 
The previous post is correct.

Reduction potential: More positive is reduced and more negative is oxidized.

Oxidation potential: More negative gets reduced and more positive gets oxidized.
 
This is a really good question, I was actually quite confused on this too. But my understanding is a bit different from yours and was hoping that maybe someone could clarify our confusion. This is my understanding of oxidation/reduction potentials:

If you're given a reduction potential, the more positive E gets reduced, while the more negative E gets oxidized

If you're given an oxidation potential, the more positive E gets oxidized, while the more negative E gets reduced

If someone can clarify this, that would be great!

👍👍
 
the most positive=== the most reduced (F)== the best oxidizing agent
the most negative=== thee most oxidized (Li)=== the best reducing agent
 
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