Question:
What does the negative sign in the expression E°Zn2+/Zn = -0.76V mean?
Solution:
A negative value is that hydrogen gas is more stable than the reduced form of species. Here, the reduced form (Zn) is not stable. It is difficult to reduce Zn2+ to Zn. So,
the reverse is more likely to happen. Zn would rather get oxidized to Zn2+ and H+ will get reduced