hi /sci/, simple chemistry question here, but ive seen no answers elsewhere
in a typical galvanic cell such as pic related, does the material of the cathode have any effect on the electric potential, as long as it doesnt react spontaneously?
could the copper be switched out for something like eg gold or silver, and still perform identically in terms of voltage produced? ignoring effects from conductivity.
the reason i ask this is because, shouldnt the fact that gold is more electronegative than copper mean that less of an electric potential is created in the cathode, since the gold holds back on donating electrons to the copper ions? and that would thus mean a lower voltage?
not sure if im thinking about it the wrong way, i just cant get over this though.