puolireaktioon

Puolireaktio is a term used in Finnish chemistry to describe a half-reaction. A chemical reaction can often be broken down into two distinct processes, each representing either oxidation or reduction. A half-reaction depicts only one of these processes. For example, in the reaction between zinc and copper ions, the overall reaction involves the oxidation of zinc and the reduction of copper ions. The oxidation half-reaction would show zinc losing electrons to become zinc ions, while the reduction half-reaction would show copper ions gaining electrons to become copper metal. These half-reactions are fundamental to understanding electrochemistry, particularly in the context of galvanic cells and electrolytic cells. By analyzing the individual half-reactions, it is possible to determine the overall cell potential and predict the direction and feasibility of a redox reaction. The concept of half-reactions is crucial for balancing complex redox equations and for designing electrochemical devices.