Direction of evolution of an electrochemical equilibrium. Practical consequences

The electrochemical equilibrium of a system may break down when two conditions are simultaneously met:

• its composition allows it to move in one of two conventional directions:

  • Ox reduction according to :

    Ox + ne ^– ® Red

  • oxidation of Red according to :

    Red ® Ox + ne ^–

• it is able to exchange electrons with an appropriate reagent.

During reduction, Ox's activity must decrease and Red's increase. It follows from this (application...