# Standard electrode potential of copper disproportionation

I am having some difficulty with the below.

It says the standard potential for $$\ce{2Cu+ (aq) -> Cu (s) + Cu^2+ (aq)}$$ is $$\pu{0.36 V}$$.

The relevant half equations are:

$$\ce{Cu+ + e- -> Cu}$$ (potential $$= \pu{0.52 V}$$)

and

$$\ce{Cu^2+ + e- -> Cu+}$$ (potential $$= \pu{0.16 V}$$)

To get the overall equation, I flipped the second half equation and so reversed the sign of the potential also to get $$\pu{-0.16 V}$$.

The first half equation is therefore reduction and the second is oxidation.

If standard electrode potential is $$\mathrm{RHS (reduction)} -\mathrm{LHS (oxidation)}$$, would the answer not be $$\pu{0.52 V} - (\pu{-0.16 V}) = \pu{0.68 V}$$? Why is it $$\pu{0.36 V}$$?

• It is RHS(reduction)-LHS(reduction) – Safdar Faisal Aug 16 '20 at 12:20
• how do I know which to put on which electrode if both are reduction? as in how do I know that the 0.52V corresponds to RHS? thanks! – Fariha Aug 16 '20 at 12:29
• Another Issue, emf of reactions are not additive; free energy is... read up on electrochemistry before you proceed.. the part undergoing oxidation is oxidation and part going reduction is reduction (seems redundant doesn't it) ;-) – Safdar Faisal Aug 16 '20 at 12:32
• After Safdar, the standard potential of the reaction is 0.68 V/2 = 0.34 V (and not 0.36 V) – Maurice Aug 16 '20 at 16:29
• It should be: $\pu{0.52 V} - \pu{0.16 V} = \pu{0.36 V}$. – Mathew Mahindaratne Aug 16 '20 at 18:33

Alas, the confusions related to signs in electrochemistry will never vanish. You mention that

$$\ce{2Cu+ (aq) -> Cu (s) + Cu^2+ (aq)}$$ is $$\pu{0.36 V}$$.

Let me start with a single equation, x-y = 10; There can be indefinite solutions if you can simultaneously change the value of x and y. However, the moment you fix the value of x, the value of y is fixed.

You stated that the overall cell potential is $$\pu{+0.36 V}$$. Electrochemically, this means that this reaction is spontaneous.

Now you also know that,

$$E_\text{cell} = E_\text{reduction} - E_\text{anode} \tag{1}$$

You are not supposed to change any sign of the half-cell from the electrode potential tables. People should stop teaching this nonsense to relatively innocent students. Suppose, I write

\begin{align} &\ce{H2O (liquid) -> H2O (gas)} &T &= \pu{100 ^\circ C} \\ &\ce{H2O (gas) -> H2O (liquid)}, &T &=\pu{ -100 ^\circ C} ?? \end{align}

The equation (1), itself takes care of all sign flipping and all.

Your half-cell corresponding to the reduction is

$$\ce{Cu+ + e- -> Cu}$$ (potential $$= \pu{0.52 V}$$)

And your half-cell potential for the oxidation is

$$\ce{Cu^2+ + e- -> Cu+}$$ (potential $$= \pu{0.16 V}$$)

Using equation (1), what you do get (remember no sign flipping) = $$\pu{+0.36 V}$$