---
title: "Standard hydrogen electrode and cu notation"
subject: "Engineering Chemistry"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_2/engineering_chemistry:standard-hydrogen-electrode"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_2/engineering_chemistry/standard-hydrogen-electrode
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Standard hydrogen electrode and cu notation

Engineering Chemistry · Chapter 1: Electro-chemistry and Buffer

- Asked in: 2075 Baisakh, 2 marks
- Video: [Standard Hydrogen Electrode Summary for A-level Chemistry (standard hydrogen half cell)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvWYAUiymKo) — Mr Murray-Green Chemistry Tutorials
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_2/engineering_chemistry/standard-hydrogen-electrode
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_2/engineering_chemistry/chapter-1

## Question

What is standard hydrogen electrode? Give cell notation of Cu electrode with it.

## Short answer

The standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) is a reference electrode with assigned potential 0.00 V, consisting of Pt in 1 M H⁺ with H₂ at 1 atm. The cell notation for Cu electrode with SHE is: Pt, H₂ (1 atm) | H⁺ (1 M) || Cu²⁺ (1 M) | Cu.

## Answer

The **standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)** is the reference electrode whose potential is taken as exactly 0.00 V at all temperatures. It consists of a platinum foil coated with platinum black, dipped in 1 M H⁺ solution (1 M HCl) with pure hydrogen gas bubbled at 1 atm pressure and 25°C.

Electrode notation: Pt, H₂ (1 atm) | H⁺ (1 M)

**Cell notation of the Cu electrode with SHE:**
Pt, H₂ (1 atm) | H⁺ (1 M) || Cu²⁺ (1 M) | Cu

Here SHE is the anode and Cu is the cathode.
- Anode: H₂ → 2H⁺ + 2e⁻
- Cathode: Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu
- Cell reaction: H₂ + Cu²⁺ → 2H⁺ + Cu

The measured emf (+0.34 V) is the standard reduction potential of Cu: E°(Cu²⁺/Cu) = +0.34 V.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which set describes the standard hydrogen electrode?
   A. Zn rod in 1 M ZnSO4
   B. Cu foil in 1 M CuSO4 with H2 at 2 atm
   C. Pt foil in 0.1 M HCl with H2 at 1 atm
   D. Pt black foil in 1 M H+ with H2 gas at 1 atm, 25°C
   Answer: D. SHE is platinum foil coated with Pt black dipped in 1 M H+ with pure H2 at 1 atm and 25°C. (Key point: Components of SHE)

2. What is the correct cell notation of the Cu electrode coupled with SHE?
   A. Cu | Cu2+ (1 M) || H+ (1 M) | H2 (1 atm), Pt
   B. Pt, H2 (1 atm) | Cu2+ (1 M) || H+ (1 M) | Cu
   C. Cu2+ (1 M) | Cu || Pt, H2 | H+
   D. Pt, H2 (1 atm) | H+ (1 M) || Cu2+ (1 M) | Cu
   Answer: D. SHE is the anode (left) and Cu the cathode (right), written Pt, H2 | H+ || Cu2+ | Cu. (Key point: Cell notation with Cu)

3. The measured emf of the SHE-Cu cell is +0.34 V. What does this value represent?
   A. Oxidation potential of SHE
   B. The potential of Pt black
   C. The emf of the cell when Cu is the anode
   D. The standard reduction potential of Cu2+/Cu
   Answer: D. Since E°(SHE) = 0, the cell emf equals E° of the Cu2+/Cu reduction, +0.34 V. (Key point: Meaning of measured emf)

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