StellarNonstandard Conditions
If we recall from lesson 9.3, the standard conditions for finding cell potential is either a solid, liquid, solution at 1.0 M, or a gas at 1.0 atm. However, to find the cell potential of a solution not at ideal conditions, we cannot use the normal equations that we use. Usually in an electrochemical cell, a solution will not be at standard conditions due to the solutions that each electrode is submerged in not being at 1.0 M.
Recall that the cell potential drives the reaction toward equilibrium, so the farther the reaction is from equilibrium, the greater the magnitude of the cell potential will be. So under nonstandard conditions, the actual cell potential might be higher or lower than the standard cell potential depending on the solution concentrations. Note that for when finding the actual cell potential for an electrochemical cell not at standard conditions, steer away from using Le Chȃtlier’s Principle, since the standard cell potential is already not at equilibrium, which makes it hard to use that to find the actual cell potential.