To determine the standard reduction potential, \( E^0 \), for the half-reaction:
[tex]\[ \text{Zn}^{2+}(\text{aq}) + 2e^{-} \rightarrow \text{Zn}(\text{s}) \][/tex]
we need to refer to standard electrochemical data, which provides the values of the standard reduction potentials for various half-reactions. The standard reduction potential is a measure of the tendency of a chemical species to gain electrons and thereby be reduced.
By consulting reliable sources such as electrochemical tables commonly found in general chemistry textbooks or databases, we find that the standard reduction potential for the half-reaction where zinc ions (\(\text{Zn}^{2+}\)) are reduced to solid zinc (\(\text{Zn\s}\)) is:
[tex]\[ -0.76\, \text{V} \][/tex]
This means that when zinc ions gain two electrons to form solid zinc, the reduction potential is \(-0.76\, \text{V}\).
Given the answer choices:
A. \( -2.37\, \text{V} \)
B. \( -0.76\, \text{V} \)
C. \( -2.71\, \text{V} \)
D. \( -1.68\, \text{V} \)
The correct answer is:
B. \( -0.76\, \text{V} \)
Thus, the standard reduction potential, [tex]\( E^0 \)[/tex], for the half-reaction [tex]\(\text{Zn}^{2+}(\text{aq}) + 2e^{-} \rightarrow \text{Zn}(\text{s}) \)[/tex] is [tex]\(-0.76\, \text{V}\)[/tex].
