What is the standard reduction potential for hydrogen?

Disable ads (and more) with a premium pass for a one time $4.99 payment

Study for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Test your chemistry skills with multiple-choice questions, each providing hints and explanations. Get exam ready!

The standard reduction potential for hydrogen ions to hydrogen gas is defined as 0.00 V. This is a reference point against which other reduction potentials are measured. The half-reaction for the reduction of hydrogen ions can be written as:

[ \text{2H}^+ (aq) + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{H}_2 (g) ]

In electrochemistry, the standard reduction potential indicates how readily a substance gains electrons, with the higher values representing a greater tendency to be reduced. Since hydrogen is commonly used as the reference electrode in standard reduction potential tables, it has a defined potential of 0.00 V. This serves as the baseline for measuring other half-reactions.

This means that any other standard reduction potential listed would either be positive or negative based on how that substance compares to hydrogen in terms of its willingness to gain electrons. Therefore, the choice that states 0.00 V represents the standard reduction potential for hydrogen is accurate and properly reflects its role as a reference in electrochemical series.