What is the effect of increasing temperature on the cell potential according to the Nernst equation?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the effect of increasing temperature on the cell potential according to the Nernst equation?
Increases cell potential
Decreases cell potential
No effect
Depends on the reaction
The effect of increasing temperature on cell potential depends on the reaction and its enthalpy change.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the effect of increasing temperature on the cell potential according to the Nernst equation?
Solution: The effect of increasing temperature on cell potential depends on the reaction and its enthalpy change.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that the Nernst equation relates cell potential to temperature and concentration.
Step 2: Recognize that the Nernst equation is: E = E° - (RT/nF) * ln(Q), where E is the cell potential, E° is the standard cell potential, R is the gas constant, T is the temperature in Kelvin, n is the number of moles of electrons, F is Faraday's constant, and Q is the reaction quotient.
Step 3: Note that as temperature (T) increases, the term (RT/nF) also increases.
Step 4: Determine the sign of the enthalpy change (ΔH) for the reaction: if ΔH is positive (endothermic), increasing temperature will increase the cell potential (E).
Step 5: If ΔH is negative (exothermic), increasing temperature will decrease the cell potential (E).
Step 6: Conclude that the effect of temperature on cell potential varies based on the specific reaction and its enthalpy change.
