Hydrogen electrode

I don't have the foggiest idea about what this means, but you might find this helpful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_hydrogen_electrode

http://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/gloss/she.html

OK, I am catching on to this.

Hi Phoenix, thanks for the links. I understand that scientists used it to

measure other materials potential electrodes. They gave it a zero

electrode potential. I still don't get it; why the hydrogen exactly and why

zero?


I think the real potential electrode of hydrogen shouldn't be zero> Maybe

I'm wrong

I guess hydrogen is the confusing factor for you. It is a reference as the electrode is actually composed of an inert metal such as platinum, gold, titanium, etc. It relates to oxidation and reduction processes of aqueous solutions. They are the inverse of each other. Click on on the Wikipedia article.

Navigator,

The standard hydrogen potential is not zero rather is assigned a potential of zero volts.

Here's why:
The electrode potential (say of oxygen electrode) cannot be determined in isolation, but in a reaction with some other electrode. This is done by measuring the potentials with respect to a standard hydrogen electrode. Tabulating all electrode potentials with respect to the same standard electrode provides a practical working framework for a wide range of calculations and predictions.

It really has nothing to do with the actual potential of hydrogen.

I think this will give you a better idea of the galvanic series and why hydrogen electrode is zero as it is in the middle of the series:



Galvanic Series

Hi everybody n thanks for your reply.

It really makes sense, it isn't basically zero but assigned to be as a

reference to other electrodes. Just like a meter why is it equal to 100 cm,

the same thing.

Thanks spidergal.

Good you see that now.