Where can I find standard reduction potentials?

I was wondering if you could help me find two E nought values for two half equations: 2 MnO₂ + H₂O + ₂e^- = Mn₂O₃ + 2 OH^- and, Zn + 2 OH^- = Zn(OH)₂ + 2e^- Nick gmf@minerva.com.au

Nick, here are the Usual Hiding Places for standard reduction potentials:

Handbooks. The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics [1] is the first place to look (the zinc reaction is there). If you don't find what you need there, other general chemical handbooks have more extensive tables. For example, check Gmelin (Gmelin Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie, 8th ed., New York, Springer Verlag GMBH). Gmelin is a compilation of almost two centuries of accumulated data about inorganic compounds in a 500 volume set. It isn't available online; you'll have to make a trip to a major research university's library to search it. Gmelin contains most of the standard reduction potentials determined.

Textbooks. Any upper-level undergraduate inorganic chemistry text has a table of standard reduction potentials (e. g. the manganese dioxide reaction is in Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: A Comprehensive Text, Interscience, New York (1966), p. 835).

Reference books. You can find reference works devoted to standard electrode potentials at your nearest university library. For example, look for Dekker's Standard Potentials in Aqueous Solution (1985).

The Web. I don't usually bother looking on the Web for data like this, but I did find standard reduction potentials for both of your reactions on Mark Winter's comprehensive WebElements site. Dr. Plambeck at the University of Alberta maintains a small table of E° values, which includes the temperature dependence.

References

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (CRC Press)

This quintessential handbook contains data for about 2500 inorganic compounds and 12000 organic compounds. Relevant physical properties listed include crystal structure, color, solubility, melting points, boiling points, heats of formation, heats of vaporization, heats of fusion, entropies, heat capacities, critical pressure and temperature, vapor pressure, and optical properties. (Book/CDROM; no Web access).
http://www.crcpress.com/catalog/9720.htm (12/12/98)

Author: Fred Senese senese@antoine.frostburg.edu

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