In which of the following cases must E be equal to zero?
I.In any cell at equilibrium
II.In a concentration cell
III.E° can never be equal to zero.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In any cell at equilibrium, the concentrations of the reactants and products are not changing, and thus there is no net transfer of electrons, meaning E must be zero (I). In a concentration cell, the only driving force for electron transfer is the concentration gradient, so once equilibrium is reached, there is no further potential difference between the electrodes, meaning E must be zero (II). E°, on the other hand, is the standard potential difference for a cell under standard conditions (1 M concentration, 1 atm pressure, 25°C), and can never be zero as it represents the maximum potential difference that can be obtained under ideal conditions.

In Which of the Following Cases Must E Be Equal