Nernst Equation Calculator
Calculate cell potential under non-standard conditions: E = E_standard - (RT/nF)ln(Q).
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Enter the standard cell potential E_standard in volts, the number of electrons transferred in the balanced reaction, the reaction quotient Q, and the temperature in Kelvin. The calculator applies the Nernst equation to find the actual cell potential.
About the Nernst Equation Calculator
The Nernst equation, developed by Walther Nernst in 1889, extends standard electrode potentials to real conditions. It shows how cell potential depends on concentration, making it essential for understanding batteries, corrosion, membrane potentials in biology, and electroanalytical methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nernst equation?
The Nernst equation calculates the cell potential under non-standard conditions: E = E_standard - (RT/nF)ln(Q). At 25 C, this simplifies to E = E_standard - (0.02569/n)ln(Q) or E = E_standard - (0.0592/n)log(Q).
What is the Faraday constant?
The Faraday constant F = 96,485 C/mol is the total electric charge carried by one mole of electrons. It connects electrochemistry to thermodynamics through delta G = -nFE.
When does E equal E_standard?
When all species are at standard conditions (1 M concentrations for solutions, 1 atm for gases), Q = 1 and ln(Q) = 0, so E equals E_standard exactly.