COMEDK20269 May 2026Evening ShiftChemistryElectrochemistryActual
Which of the following is always true about a spontaneous cell reaction in a galvanic cell?
Options
- AE^o_ cell = 0; G^o < 0; Q_C = K_C
- BE^o_ cell 0; Q_C < K_C
- CE^o_ cell > 0; G^o K_C
- DE^o_ cell > 0; G^o < 0; Q_C < K_C
Correct answer
D. E^o_ cell > 0; G^o < 0; Q_C < K_C
Step-by-step solution
For a spontaneous cell reaction, the change in Gibbs free energy must be negative, i.e., G The relationship between G , the standard Gibbs free energy change G^o , and the reaction quotient Q_C is given by: G = G^o + RT Q_C At equilibrium, G = 0 and Q_C = K_C , so: G^o = -RT K_C Substituting this back into the first equation, we get: G = -RT K_C + RT Q_C = RT ( Q_C K_C ) For the reaction to be spontaneous ( G RT ( Q_C K_C ) In a standard galvanic cell, the standard cell potential is positive, E^o_ cell > 0 . Since