Chemistry › Section Q · Electrochemistry › Topic Q.4
Potential, free energy, and equilibrium
A cell's voltage is more than a number on a meter: it measures the free energy change of the reaction inside, and through that its equilibrium constant. It also explains why a battery's voltage sags as it runs down.
In this topic
- Three measures of one driving force
- From volts to joules: ΔG = −nFE
- Worked example: free energy from a cell potential
- E° and the equilibrium constant
- Worked example: an equilibrium constant from E°
- The Nernst equation
- Worked example: a Daniell cell off standard
- Dead batteries and concentration cells
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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