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Nernst Equation

Definition

The Nernst equation calculates potential of an electrochemical cell or it relates the reduction potential of an electrochemical reaction to the standard electrode potential, temperature, and activities of the chemical species undergoing reduction and oxidation.

Analogy

It's like adjusting a recipe based on how many people you're cooking for. The Nernst equation adjusts the voltage (flavor) based on the concentration (number of people) and temperature (cooking conditions).

Related terms

Electrochemical Cell: A device capable of either generating electrical energy from chemical reactions or using electrical energy to cause chemical reactions.

Redox Reaction: A type of chemical reaction that involves a transfer of electrons between two species.

Standard Electrode Potential (E°): The measure of individual potential of a reversible electrode at standard state, i.e., 298 K, 1 atm pressure and with each ion at an activity equal to one.