Metal P has a standard reduction potential of minus 0.44 V and metal Q has one of plus 0.80 V. Which metal is the stronger reducing agent?

1. Every value in a table of standard electrode potentials is written for the reduction half reaction. 2. A positive value means the species is reduced easily, so it takes electrons readily. 3. A negative value means the reverse, that the species gives electrons away readily and forms ions. 4. A reducing agent is the species that hands electrons to something else and is itself oxidised. 5. So the better reducing agent is the one with the more negative electrode potential. 6. Metal P at minus 0.44 volts is more negative than metal Q at plus 0.80 volts. 7. Metal P therefore ionises more easily and is the stronger reducing agent. 8. Choosing metal Q is the trap for reading the largest number as the strongest, and describing a reducing agent as gaining electrons reverses the definition. _Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 13: Electrochemical reactions_