Consider the above electrochemical cell where a metal electrode (M) is undergoing redox reaction by forming M ⁺ ( M M ⁺+ e ⁻ ) . The cation M ⁺ is present in two different concentrations c₁ and c₂ as shown above. Which of the following statement is correct for generating a positive cell potential?

Step-by-step solution

The given setup is a concentration cell with identical electrodes (M) and different electrolyte concentrations ( c₁ and c₂ ). For a concentration cell, the standard cell potential E^0_ cell = 0 . The cell reactions are: Anode: M(s) M^+(c_ anode ) + e^- Cathode: M^+(c_ cathode ) + e^- M(s) Net reaction: M^+(c_ cathode ) M^+(c_ anode ) Using the Nernst equation at 298 K : E_ cell = E^0_ cell - 0.0591 n c_ anode c_ cathode E_ cell = 0 - 0.0591 c_ anode c_ cathode For a positive cell potential ( E_ cell > 0 ), the term