Spontaneous ...
Happens all by itself; typically unpredictable
Non-spontaneous...
You have to do something to make it happen.
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In a fuel cell, the overall redox reaction is spontaneous, meaning it proceeds on its own without an external power source. The electrode reactions that occur at the anode and cathode are also spontaneous, as they involve the transfer of electrons from the fuel to the oxidant. This spontaneous reaction generates electrical energy that can be used to power devices.
A reaction in a fuel combustion cell is non spontaneous and irreversible. The heat (mostly by an electric spark) is given forcefully into the system.
In the context of "spontaneous vs non-spontaneous," a reaction is considered spontaneous if it occurs on its own without needing external influence. On the other hand, a non-spontaneous reaction requires external energy input to occur.
The standard cell potential for the non-spontaneous reaction between silver and copper ions (Ag+ and Cu2+) is determined by subtracting the reduction potential of Ag+ from that of Cu2+. The cell potential would be negative as the reaction is non-spontaneous, indicating that an external voltage larger than the calculated value would be needed to drive the reaction in the reverse direction.
The significance of delta G in chemical reactions is that it indicates whether a reaction is spontaneous or non-spontaneous. A negative delta G value means the reaction is spontaneous and can proceed on its own, while a positive delta G value means the reaction is non-spontaneous and requires external energy input to occur.
The difference can be clarified by entropy (the second rule of thermodynamics).The reaction is more spontaneous with higher entropy, for the reactions that occur spontaneously the entropy is higher than for the ones that do not.
An electrolytic cell uses an external power source to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. Electricity is used to force electrons through the cell, causing a redox reaction to occur at the electrodes. This allows for the production of new chemical compounds or the separation of substances.