Topic summary

Reduction potential

Reduction potential

Redox potential (also known as oxidation / reduction potential, ORP, pe, , or ) is a measure of the tendency of a chemical species to acquire electrons from, or lose electrons to, an electrode and thereby be reduced or oxidised respectively. Redox potential is expressed in volts (V). Each species has its own intrinsic redox potential; for example, the more positive the reduction potential (reduction potential is more commonly used due to the general formalism in electrochemistry), the greater the species' affinity for electrons and its tendency to be reduced (stronger oxidising agent).