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Chemistry Question 56 – JEE-MAIN 2026

Given at 298 K : EFe2+/Fe∘ = X Volt EFe3+/Fe∘ = Y Volt The EFe3+/Fe2+∘ in Volt at 298 K is given by:

Standard electrode potentials are not directly additive. Instead, their corresponding standard Gibbs free energies are additive.

Step 1: Write down the given half-reactions and their corresponding standard Gibbs free energy changes.✦ Active

The given standard electrode potentials correspond to the following half-reactions and their standard Gibbs free energy changes:

Fe2+(aq)+2e−→Fe(s);E1∘=X V⟹ΔG1∘=−2FX
Fe3+(aq)+3e−→Fe(s);E2∘=Y V⟹ΔG2∘=−3FY

We need to find E∘ for the reaction:

Fe3+(aq)+e−→Fe2+(aq);E3∘=?⟹ΔG3∘=−1FE3∘
Step 2: Manipulate the half-reactions to obtain the desired reaction and sum their Gibbs free energies.○ Expand

To obtain the desired reaction (Fe3+→Fe2+), we can subtract the first reaction from the second reaction, or equivalently, add the reverse of the first reaction to the second reaction. Reversing the first reaction gives:

Fe(s)→Fe2+(aq)+2e−;ΔG1,rev∘=−(−2FX)=2FX

Adding this reversed reaction to the second reaction:

(Fe3+(aq)+3e−→Fe(s))+(Fe(s)→Fe2+(aq)+2e−)
Fe3+(aq)+e−→Fe2+(aq)

Therefore, the total Gibbs free energy change for the desired reaction is:

ΔG3∘=ΔG2∘+ΔG1,rev∘=−3FY+2FX
Step 3: Calculate the standard electrode potential for the desired reaction.○ Expand

Substitute ΔG3∘=−1FE3∘ into the equation:

−1FE3∘=2FX−3FY

Dividing by −F gives:

E3∘=−(2X−3Y)=3Y−2X

Thus, the standard electrode potential EFe3+/Fe2+∘ is 3Y−2X Volt.

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