Species ranked by reduction potential, predicting oxidizing and reducing strength.
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The electrochemical series ranks species by their standard reduction potentials, placing strong oxidizing agents with high positive potentials at one end and strong reducing agents with negative potentials at the other. Species higher in the series are better oxidizers, while those lower down are better reducers. Any species will oxidize those below it in the series, which allows displacement reactions to be predicted without experiment. The series is a practical summary of the relative activities of metals and nonmetals. It is used in metallurgy, corrosion science and electrochemical analysis.
Key ideas: The series ranks half-reactions by E standard. Top (very positive) species are strong oxidizers (F2, MnO4-); bottom (very negative) species are strong reducers (Li, K, Na). A metal displaces any ion below it in the series, and metals above hydrogen dissolve in dilute acids (Zn, Fe, Mg) while those below do not (Cu, Ag, Au).
Common mistakes and connections: Mistake: assuming a favorable E guarantees fast reaction; kinetics and passivation matter, such as Al protected by its oxide. Also reading the series as reactivity in all conditions: it applies to aqueous 1 M standard states. The metal reactivity series follows from it with minor differences, such as lithium.
In the electrochemical series each metal reduces the ions of all metals to its right, so Zn displaces Cu2+ but Cu cannot displace Zn2+. The interactive lesson shows this as a live animation or chart.
Zinc displaces copper ions from solution because zinc lies below copper in the series, but copper cannot displace zinc ions.
Species ranked by reduction potential, predicting oxidizing and reducing strength.
Electrochemical Series is a intermediate topic in Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry. It builds on the vocabulary of beginner topics in this area.
Study these earlier topics in Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry first: Standard Electrode Potential, Standard Hydrogen Electrode, Cell Potential.
The next topics in Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry are Spontaneity from Cell Potential and Nernst Equation.
Yes. The interactive lesson includes a self-check question on Electrochemical Series, and the Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry quiz draws on every topic in this area.
Electrochemical Series is topic 53 of 105 in Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry.