Two different galvanic cells are constructed under standard conditions (all aqueous species at 1 M, gases at 1 atm, and 298 K).
• Cell A produces a standard potential of +0.76 V for its overall reaction.
• Cell B produces a standard potential of –0.14 V for its overall reaction.
No additional numerical data are supplied.
(a) Describe what the algebraic sign of the standard potential indicates about the relative free-energy change for each overall reaction.
(b) For which of the two reactions is the equilibrium constant greater than 1? Explain your reasoning without performing a numerical calculation.
(c) The magnitude of the standard potential for Cell A is larger than that for Cell B. Using only qualitative reasoning, discuss which reaction’s equilibrium mixture will contain the smaller proportion of reactants at 298 K and justify your answer.