Sample interview questions: Describe the principles of electrochemical thermodynamics and its applications.
Sample answer:
Electrochemical thermodynamics is a branch of thermodynamics that deals with the study of energy transformations in electrochemical systems. It is based on the fundamental principles of thermodynamics and focuses specifically on the behavior of chemical reactions involving the transfer of electrons.
The principles of electrochemical thermodynamics are governed by the laws of thermodynamics, namely the first law (conservation of energy) and the second law (entropy). These laws provide a framework for understanding the energy changes and the directionality of electrochemical reactions.
One of the key concepts in electrochemical thermodynamics is the electrochemical potential, which is a measure of the thermodynamic driving force for electron transfer in a chemical reaction. The electrochemical potential is related to the standard electrode potential, which describes the tendency of a half-cell in an electrochemical cell to undergo reduction or oxidation. The difference in electrode potentials between two half-cells determines the overall cell potential and the direction of electron flow.
Electrochemical thermodynamics also introduces the concept of Gibbs free energy, which is a measure of the maximum useful work that can be extracted from a system at constant temperature and pressure. For an electrochemical reaction to occur spontaneously, the change in Gibbs free energy must be negative. This criterion, often expressed as ΔG < 0, provides insight into the feasibility and directionality of electrochemical processes.
Applications of electrochemical thermodynamics are abundant and dive… Read full answer