oxidation potential

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oxidation potential (electrode potential, reduction potential; ) The energy change, measured in volts, required to add or remove electrons to or from an element or compound. The reference reaction is the removal of electrons from hydrogen in a standard hydrogen half-cell (i.e. H2(gas) at 1 atm pressure delivered to a 1.0 M solution of H+ ions at 25°C, into which a platinum electrode has been inserted): H2 → 2H+ + 2e, This energy change is given the value of zero. The oxidation potential of other species are determined relatively by measuring the potential difference between a half-cell containing an aqueous solution of the oxidized and reduced forms of the test substance, and the standard hydrogen half-cell. For example, for Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e, Eθ = 0.77, for Mn2+ → Mn3+ + e, Eθ = 1.51. With decreasing values of oxidation potential, the reduced form of a couple (e.g. Fe2+) will itself reduce the oxidized form of a couple with a higher oxidation potential (e.g. Mn3+). The oxidation potentials obtained under these controlled conditions are called standard electrode potentials, or sometimes standard reduction potentials. Compare REDOX POTENTIAL.