A metal with a large negative standard electrode potential is
- A. a strong reducing agent that is easily oxidised
- B. a strong oxidising agent
- C. chemically unreactive
- D. unable to form ions
Explanation
A large negative value means the metal releases electrons readily and prefers to exist as its ion, so it is easily oxidised and therefore acts as a powerful reducing agent, as lithium and potassium do. Metals at the positive end of the series, such as gold and silver, hold their electrons tightly and are unreactive. The electrochemical series is simply the reactivity series expressed in volts.