Redox reactions and the electropotential axis

Abstract

Many general chemistry students grapple unsuccessfully with electrode potentials, largely because of traditional cell notation and symbolism that can be confusing to the beginner, An approach that is unshackled by this ancillary aspect of the subject should serve to emphasize the chemical concepts involved. An introductory discussion should not get bogged down with the problems of representing cells by standard cell diagrams and notations and instead should concentrate on the chemistry of galvanic cells and the use of these cells in describing the concepts of redox chemistry.