Unit 3: Electrochemistry

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to redox reactions and electrochemistry.

Boron

Usually forms only 3 covalent bonds, found in boric acid and used as a detergent.

Nitrogen

Can assume many oxidation states (-3 to +5), found in explosives and fertilizers.

Allotropes

Different structural forms of an element, carbon has three: graphene, graphite, and diamond.

Phosphorus

Found in common materials like soaps and fertilizers; extracted from phosphate rock.

Halides

Have small radii, high ionization energy, form -1 anions, their oxides are acidic.

Noble gases

Inert gases with filled electron shells, used as cryogens and in lighting.

Oxidation

Process of losing electrons, decreasing oxidation state.

Reduction

Process of gaining electrons, increasing oxidation state.

Reducing agent

Species that donates electrons and is oxidized in a redox reaction.

Oxidizing agent

Species that accepts electrons and is reduced in a redox reaction.

Galvanic cell

A device that generates electrical energy from spontaneous redox reactions.

Electrolytic cell

A cell that requires external energy to drive nonspontaneous reactions.

Electrolysis

Process of driving a chemical reaction using electricity.

Atom Economy

A measure of the amount of starting material that ends up in the desired product.

Sacrificial electrode

Anode that corrodes and protects another metal from oxidation.

Faraday's constant

The amount of electric charge per mole of electrons, approximately 96485 C/mol.

Nernst equation

A mathematical formula relating the cell potential to the concentration of reactants and products.

Electrochemical cell

A system that allows for the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy.

Cell potential

The voltage produced by an electrochemical cell.

Rust

Iron oxide formed by the oxidation of iron in the presence of water and oxygen.