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Electrochemistry

Question
CBSEENCH12005950

What is the Nernst equation for the Potential of an electrode? Can Nernst equation be applied to the cell relation ? Apply this equation to a general reaction.
aA+bBcC+dD

Solution
The concentration of all species involved in the species involved in the electrode reaction is unity.This need not be always true.
Nernst shows that for the electrode reaction:
Mn+(aq) + ne- M(s)
the electrode potential at any concentration measured with respect to standard hydrogen electrode can be represented by:
EMn+M = EMn+M- - RTnFIn [M][Mn+]
but concentration of solid M is taken as unity as we have
EMn+M = EMn+M- - RTnFIn [1][Mn+]

R is gas constant (8.314 JK–1 mol–1),
F is Faraday constant (96487 C mol–1), T is temperature in kelvin and [Mn+] is the concentration of the species, Mn

Let us take a electrode reaction
Zn2++2e-Zn
The Nernst equation of this electrode
E = E°-2.303 RTnFlogaproductareactant
Instead of activity, we can take molar concentration.
E = E°-0.05916nlogZnZn2+
For pure solid and liquid molar concentration is taken as unity.
E = E°-0.059162log1Zn2+
Yes,  Nernst equation can be applied to the cell reaction.
                           aA+bBcC+dD

E = E°-0.05916nlogCcDdAa Bb