Answer Happy

Including the approximate overvoltage, the reduction potential
for hydrogen gas from water is about -1.0 V and the reduction
potential for the oxidation of oxygen from water is about 1.4
V.
2 H2O (l) + 2
e- ⟶ H2 (g) + 2
OH1- (aq) Eo =
-0.83 V but with overvoltage about -1.0 V
2
H2O (l) ⟶ O2
(g) + 4 H+ (aq) + 4
e- Eo = 1.23 V but with
overvoltage about 1.4 V
Which of the following cations would be more easily reduced than
water? (we can select more than 1)
Options are:
* sodium ion
* copper ion
* magnesium ion
* gold ion
* nickel
Can you also explain what overvoltage is? We did not cover that
in class. I'll take a guess here and say that any ion that has a
lower reduction potential will be more easily reduced than
water?