What is electrode potential? What are the factors which affect electrode potential?

Electrode potential refers to the potential difference between an electrode and its electrolyte solution. It's a measure of the ability of an electrode to attract or donate electrons. Here are the factors that affect electrode potential:

Nature of the Electrode: Different materials have different tendencies to gain or lose electrons. This influences their electrode potential.

Concentration of Ions: The concentration of ions in the electrolyte solution around the electrode can affect its potential. For example, increasing the concentration of ions can affect the equilibrium potential of the electrode.

Temperature: Electrode potential generally increases with temperature. This is because higher temperatures increase the kinetic energy of ions and electrons, affecting the overall potential difference.

Pressure: In certain cases, changes in pressure can influence the electrode potential, particularly in gas electrodes where gases are involved in the electrode reaction.

Presence of Catalysts: Catalysts can alter the rate of electrode reactions, which in turn can affect the electrode potential.

pH of the Solution: pH affects the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in the solution, which can influence the electrode potential, especially in electrodes involving redox reactions.

These factors collectively determine the electrode potential, which plays a crucial role in various electrochemical processes and applications.