Name: Redox Reactions as a Basis for Titration
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 7 min 17 s
Description: This video will help us learn about how redox indicators like potassium permanganate or diphenylamine are used to indicate the completion of a redox reaction...

Question

What is an electrochemical series? How can this be used to explain the oxidizing and reducing abilities of elements?

Accepted Answer

At $298 K$ , the oxidizing agents are written in decreasing order of their strength, i.e., the tendency of the oxidation half reaction goes on decreasing as we move from top to bottom such a list of oxidizing agents arranges in decreasing order of their strength is called the electromotive or electrochemical series.

To compare the relative strength of oxidizing and reducing agents. In the electrochemical series, the substances are arranged in decreasing order of their electrode potentials. This means that as we move down the series, the tendency of the substance for reduction goes on decreasing. In other words, the oxidizing power of the substance goes on decreasing. Therefore, the substances at the top of the table have the maximum tendency to get reduced and thus behave as strong oxidizing agents. On the other hand, substances at the bottom of the table have lower electrode potentials, therefore, they have lower tendency to get reduced. Consequently, substances at the bottom of the table can be easily oxidized and hence act as strong reducing agents.

For example,

The standard electrode potential of halogen in decreasing order $F_{2} > {Cl}_{2} > {Br}_{2} > I_{2}$

Therefore, their oxidising power decreasing in same order, i.e., $F_{2} > {Cl}_{2} > {Br}_{2} > I_{2}$

And the reducing power decreasing in the order,

$I^{-} > {Br}^{-} > {Cl}^{-} > F^{-}$

What is an electrochemical series? How can this be used to explain the oxidizing and reducing abilities of elements?

Important Questions on Redox Reactions

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