Electrochemistry nonspontaneous reactions

Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the use of spontaneous chemical reactions to produce electricity and the use of electricity to drive nonspontaneous reactions forward. Electrochemical techniques—procedures based on electrochemistry—allow us to use electronic equipment to monitor concentrations of ions in solution. We can use them to monitor the composition and pH of solutions and to determine the pKa of acids. Electrochemistry even allows us to monitor the activity of our brain and heart (perhaps while we are trying to master chemistry), the pH of our blood, and the presence of pollutants in our water supply. 

Electrochemistry is the area of chemistry concerned with the interconversion of chemical and electrical energy. Chemical energy is converted to electrical energy in a galvanic cell, a device in which a spontaneous redox reaction is used to produce an electric current. Electrical energy is converted to chemical energy in an electrolytic cell, a cell in which an electric current drives a nonspontaneous reaction. It s convenient to separate cell reactions into half-reactions because oxidation and reduction occur at separate electrodes. The electrode at which oxidation occurs is called the anode, and the electrode at which reduction occurs is called the cathode. 

Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the interconversion of electrical energy and chemical energy. Electrochemical processes are redox (oxidation-reduction) reactions in which the energy released by a spontaneous reaction is converted to electricity or in which electrical energy is nsed to cause a nonspontaneous reaction to occur. Although redox reactions were discnssed in Chapter 4, it is helpful to review some of the basic concepts that will come np again in this chapter. 

Electrochemistry The study of chem ical reactions that produce electricity, and the use of electricity to facilitate nonspontane-ous chemical reactions. 

Electrochemistry is the study of the relationships between electricity and chemical reactions. It includes the study of both spontaneous and nonspontaneous processes. 

As discussed in Chapter 4, oxidation is the loss of electrons in a chemical reaction, and reduction is the gain of electrons, ooo (Section 4.4) Thus, oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions occur when electrons are transferred from an atom that is oxidized to an atom that is reduced. Redox reactions are involved not only in the operation of batteries but also in a wide variety of important natural processes, including the rusting of iron, the browning of foods, and the respiration of animals. Electrochemistry is the study of the relationships between electricity and chemical reactions. It includes the study of both spontaneous and nonspontaneous processes. 

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