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Loosely speaking, is the reduction potential equivalent to the ease of discharge in the context of electrolysis?

i.e. is it easier to discharge an ion with a higher reduction potential as opposed to one with a lower one?

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Easy is a big word.

Lower potential means it requires less energy, but that doesn't say anything about how quick the reaction will proceed.

A low potential reaction may still have slow kinetics and therefore not be "easy".

If you are comparing ions as to which will produce more product as a result of an electrochemical reaction, you need to find something with low potential and fast kinetics.

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  • $\begingroup$ I'm not concerned with the speed of reaction, I just want to know which ions will be discharge and which won't. $\endgroup$ – Vatsal Manot Mar 13 '15 at 4:17
  • $\begingroup$ That is exactly what I mean. Just because something is thermodynamically spontaneous, doesn't mean it will happen. It might be kinetically so slow that it appears as not happening. $\endgroup$ – Burak Ulgut Mar 13 '15 at 6:32

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