---
title: "A student investigates whether copper metal can provide the electrons needed to recover nickel metal from a solution. The proposed reaction is  \\(\\text{Ni}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}+\\text{Cu(s)}\\rightarrow\\text{Ni(s)}+\\text{Cu}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\)  The relevant standard reduction potentials are shown below.  | Reduction half-reaction | \\(E^\\circ\\) | |—|—:| | \\(\\text{Ni}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}+2e^-\\rightarrow\\text{Ni(s)}\\) | \\(-0.25\\text{ V}\\) | | \\(\\text{Cu}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}+2e^-\\rightarrow\\text{Cu(s)}\\) | \\(+0.34\\text{ V}\\) |  The experiment is conducted at \\(25^\\circ\\text{C}\\) with both aqueous ions initially at \\(1.0\\text{ M}\\). Which choice correctly indicates whether the proposed reaction is thermodynamically favorable under standard conditions and whether an external voltage source is required to sustain the reaction as written?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119398/"
date_modified: "2026-08-19T12:40:07+00:00"
---

# A student investigates whether copper metal can provide the electrons needed to recover nickel metal from a solution. The proposed reaction is

\(\text{Ni}^{2+}\text{(aq)}+\text{Cu(s)}\rightarrow\text{Ni(s)}+\text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\)

The relevant standard reduction potentials are shown below.

| Reduction half-reaction | \(E^\circ\) |
|—|—:|
| \(\text{Ni}^{2+}\text{(aq)}+2e^-\rightarrow\text{Ni(s)}\) | \(-0.25\text{ V}\) |
| \(\text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)}+2e^-\rightarrow\text{Cu(s)}\) | \(+0.34\text{ V}\) |

The experiment is conducted at \(25^\circ\text{C}\) with both aqueous ions initially at \(1.0\text{ M}\). Which choice correctly indicates whether the proposed reaction is thermodynamically favorable under standard conditions and whether an external voltage source is required to sustain the reaction as written?

A student investigates whether copper metal can provide the electrons needed to recover nickel metal from a solution. The proposed reaction is

\(\text{Ni}^{2+}\text{(aq)}+\text{Cu(s)}\rightarrow\text{Ni(s)}+\text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\)

The relevant standard reduction potentials are shown below.

| Reduction half-reaction | \(E^\circ\) |
|---|---:|
| \(\text{Ni}^{2+}\text{(aq)}+2e^-\rightarrow\text{Ni(s)}\) | \(-0.25\text{ V}\) |
| \(\text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)}+2e^-\rightarrow\text{Cu(s)}\) | \(+0.34\text{ V}\) |

The experiment is conducted at \(25^\circ\text{C}\) with both aqueous ions initially at \(1.0\text{ M}\). Which choice correctly indicates whether the proposed reaction is thermodynamically favorable under standard conditions and whether an external voltage source is required to sustain the reaction as written?

- **A.** Thermodynamically favorable: Yes; external voltage required: No
- **B.** Thermodynamically favorable: Yes; external voltage required: Yes
- **C.** Thermodynamically favorable: No; external voltage required: No
- **D.** Thermodynamically favorable: No; external voltage required: Yes

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119398/*