---
title: "A student constructs a standard galvanic cell by connecting a zinc half-cell to a copper half-cell using a salt bridge and a wire. The standard reduction potentials for the two half-reactions are given in the table below.  | Half-reaction | \\(E^\\circ \\text{ (V)}\\) | |—|—| | \\(\\text{Cu}^{2+}\\text{(aq)} + 2\\,e^- \\rightarrow \\text{Cu(s)}\\) | \\(+0.34\\) | | \\(\\text{Zn}^{2+}\\text{(aq)} + 2\\,e^- \\rightarrow \\text{Zn(s)}\\) | \\(-0.76\\) |  Which of the following balanced net-ionic equations represents the thermodynamically favorable reaction that occurs as the cell operates under standard conditions?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120331/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T04:23:11+00:00"
---

# A student constructs a standard galvanic cell by connecting a zinc half-cell to a copper half-cell using a salt bridge and a wire. The standard reduction potentials for the two half-reactions are given in the table below.

| Half-reaction | \(E^\circ \text{ (V)}\) |
|—|—|
| \(\text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + 2\,e^- \rightarrow \text{Cu(s)}\) | \(+0.34\) |
| \(\text{Zn}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + 2\,e^- \rightarrow \text{Zn(s)}\) | \(-0.76\) |

Which of the following balanced net-ionic equations represents the thermodynamically favorable reaction that occurs as the cell operates under standard conditions?

A student constructs a standard galvanic cell by connecting a zinc half-cell to a copper half-cell using a salt bridge and a wire. The standard reduction potentials for the two half-reactions are given in the table below.

| Half-reaction | \(E^\circ \text{ (V)}\) |
|---|---|
| \(\text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + 2\,e^- \rightarrow \text{Cu(s)}\) | \(+0.34\) |
| \(\text{Zn}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + 2\,e^- \rightarrow \text{Zn(s)}\) | \(-0.76\) |

Which of the following balanced net-ionic equations represents the thermodynamically favorable reaction that occurs as the cell operates under standard conditions?

- **A.** \(\text{Zn}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + \text{Cu(s)} \rightarrow \text{Zn(s)} + \text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\)
- **B.** \(\text{Zn(s)} + \text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{Zn}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + \text{Cu(s)}\)
- **C.** \(\text{Zn}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + \text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{Zn(s)} + \text{Cu(s)}\)
- **D.** \(2\,\text{Zn(s)} + \text{Cu}^{2+}\text{(aq)} \rightarrow 2\,\text{Zn}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + \text{Cu(s)}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120331/*