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A Nonspontaneous Reaction Does Not Produce a Current
- The voltage of a voltaic cell depends on the relative tendencies of the reactants to undergo oxidation and reduction.
- Combining the oxidation of a metal high on the activity series with the reduction of a metal ion low on the activity series produces a battery with a relatively high voltage.
- For example, the oxidation of Li(s) combined with the reduction of Cu2+(aq) results in a relatively high voltage.
- Combining the oxidation of a metal on the activity series with the reduction of a metal ion just below it results in a voltaic cell with
a relatively low voltage.
- Combining the oxidation of a metal on the activity series with the reduction of a metal ion above it on the activity series does not produce a voltaic cell at all.
- You cannot make a voltaic cell by trying to oxidize Cu(s) and reduce Li+(aq). Such a reaction is not spontaneous and does
not produce electrical current.