Module 3

Module 3—Electrochemical Reactions

Lesson Summary

 

In Lesson 2 you considered the following questions:

• Why do some metals appear to react more easily than other metals?
  
• Is it possible to predict whether an electrochemical reaction will occur spontaneously?

In this lesson you analyzed data collected from the reaction of metals with solutions of metal ions, and you developed a list ranking metals and metal ions in terms of their tendency to react. You also learned how to classify substances as oxidizing and reducing agents, and you learned how to rank them in terms of their tendency to transfer electrons. You learned about the spontaneity rule and how to use a table of redox reactions to predict the outcome of electrochemical reactions.

 

Lesson Glossary

 

non-spontaneous: a process that is incapable of proceeding unless driven by an outside source of energy

 

spontaneous: a process that occurs without any external energy source

 

A spontaneous process will occur on its own.

 

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