Electrode, calomel potentials

The precision and accuracy of the measurement also depend strongly on the reference electrode, which affects the results through fluctuations in its own potential and through the liquid-junction potential at the test solution-liquid bridge interface. This subject is extensively treated in [158]. Common electrodes of the second kind have sufficiently stable potentials at a constant temperature, but difficulties can be encountered due to temperature hysteresis. Silver chloride electrodes are preferable to calomel electrodes, because their temperature hysteresis is substantially smaller with a calomel electrode, potential stabilization after a change in the temperature may even take several hours. Negligible temperature hysteresis is exhibited by the thallamide reference electrode [26,... 

The same equation for the calomel electrode potential will be obtained when using the Nernst equation (VI-7) for the reaction expressed by the equation (c). 

In the case of enterobactin, the complete reduction of the complex in a 1 3 Fe2SC>3 monomer solution, was achieved at a hydrogen (calomel) electrode potential of — 0.6 V, which should be contrasted with the irreducibility of the corresponding cyclic triester complex down to electrode potentials approaching hydrogen discharge ( — 1.8 V) (63). A plausible explanation is that the reducible species is a partially dissociated (i.e. hydrated) complex, present in equilibrium with the tricatechol chelate, which itself is practically irreducible. This is consistent with the observation that the potential for full reduction decreases as the concentration of monomeric ligand is increased beyond the stoichiometric requirement. 

Fig. 5.3.3 Variation of calomel electrode potential with time (open symbols) and of mercuric species concentration measured spectrophotometrically (filled symbols) [126]. The upper series (open symbols) and concentration changes refer to a thick-skin type electrode, and the lower series to Hills and Ives type electrode (see details in [126])...

Measured against a sodium chloride saturated calomel electrode. Potential difference between the cathodic and anodic peaks determined at 100 mV/s. 

For many purposes the hydrogen electrode is not convenient and it can be replaced by another cell of known standard electrode potential. A well-known example is the calomel cell shown in Figure 4.5. 

Example 13 The following data were recorded for the potential E of an electrode, measured against the saturated calomel electrode, as a function of concentration C (moles liter ). 

Table 8.31 Half-Wave Potentials (vs. Saturated Calomel Electrode) of Organic...

The potential of a calomel electrode, therefore, is determined by the concentration of Ch. 

The saturated calomel electrode (SCE), which is constructed using an aqueous solution saturated with KCl, has a potential at 25 °C of -hO.2444 V. A typical SCE is shown in Eigure 11.8 and consists of an inner tube, packed with a paste of Hg, HgiCli, and saturated KCl, situated within a second tube filled with a saturated solution of KCl. A small hole connects the two tubes, and an asbestos fiber serves as a salt bridge to the solution in which the SCE is immersed. The stopper in the outer tube may be removed when additional saturated KCl is needed. The shorthand notation for this cell is... 

The following data were collected for the analysis of fluoride in tap water and in toothpaste, (a) For the analysis of tap water, three 25.0-mL samples were each mixed with 25.0 mL of TISAB, and the potential was measured with an F ISE relative to a saturated calomel electrode. Five 1.00-mL additions of a standard solution of 100.0-ppm F were added to each, measuring the potential following each addition. 

Reference Electrodes and Liquid Junctions. The electrical cincuit of the pH ceU is completed through a salt bridge that usually consists of a concentrated solution of potassium chloride [7447-40-7]. The solution makes contact at one end with the test solution and at the other with a reference electrode of constant potential. The Hquid junction is formed at the area of contact between the salt bridge and the test solution. The mercury—mercurous chloride electrode, the calomel electrode, provides a highly reproducible potential in the potassium chloride bridge solution and is the most widely used reference electrode. However, mercurous chloride is converted readily into mercuric ion and mercury when in contact with concentrated potassium chloride solutions above 80°C. This disproportionation reaction causes an unstable potential with calomel electrodes. Therefore, the silver—silver chloride electrode and the thallium amalgam—thallous chloride electrode often are preferred for measurements above 80°C. However, because silver chloride is relatively soluble in concentrated solutions of potassium chloride, the solution in the electrode chamber must be saturated with silver chloride. 

The polarographic half-wave reduction potential of 4-nitroisothiazole is -0.45 V (pH 7, vs. saturated calomel electrode). This potential is related to the electron affinity of the molecule and it provides a measure of the energy of the LUMO. Pulse radiolysis and ESR studies have been carried out on the radical anions arising from one-electron reduction of 4-nitroisothiazole and other nitro-heterocycles (76MI41704). 

On the other hand, CU-CUSO4 should not be used as built-in electrodes for potential test probes (see Section 3.3.3.2) because there is a danger of copper precipitating on the steel electrode. Calomel electrodes with saturated KCl solution are preferred in this case and present no problems. 

The electrolysis is carried out at a reference potential of -2.4 volts vs a standard calomel electrode. An initial current density of 0.0403 amp/cm is obtained which drops to 0.0195 amp/cm at the end of the reduction, which is carried on over a period of 1,682 minutes at 15° to 20°C. The catholyte is filtered, the solid material is washed with water and dried. 430 g of the 2,3-bis-(3-pyridyl)-butane-2,3-diol is recrystallized from water, MP 244° to 245°C. 

A lomic Atomic Crystal structure Melting point (°C) Density Thermal conduc- tivity (W/m K- ) at 20 C Electrical resistivity Specific heat Thermal expansion Magnetic susceptibility Electrode potential w.r.i. sal calomel (V) z c 2... 

Finally, calomel electrodes (and more especially hydrogen electrodes) are not suitable for field measurements because they are not sufficiently robust. The calomel electrodes are however essential for calibrating the field reference electrodes. Saturated KCI calomel electrodes are the most suitable because there is then no doubt about the reference potential of the calibrating electrode. Lack of adequate calibration is a common cause of cathodic protection system mismanagement. 

Various types of reference electrodes have been considered in Section 20.3, and the potentials of these electrodes and their variation with the activity of the electrolyte are listed in Table 21.7, Chapter 21. It is appropriate, however to point out here that the saturated calomel electrode (S.C.E.), the silver-silver chloride electrode and the copper-copper sulphate electrode are the most widely used in corrosion testing and monitoring. 

The mechanism of the action of metallic copper was investigated by Streicher who determined the potential of a Type 314 stainless steel, the redox potential of the solution (as indicated by a platinised-Pt electrode) and the potential of the copper. The actual measurements were made with a saturated calomel electrode, but the results reported below are with reference to S.H.E. In the absence of copper the corrosion potential of the stainless steel was 0-58 V, whereas the potential of the Pt electrode was... 

A basic circuit is shown schematically in Fig. 19.36(a). The specimen C., or working electrode W.E. is the metal under study, the auxiliary electrode A.E. is usually platinum and R.E. is the reference electrode, for instance a saturated calomel electrode. The desired potential difference between the specimen and the reference electrode is set with the backing circuit B. Any... 

Reference Electrode an equilibrium (reversible) electrochemical half-cell of reproducible potential against which an unknown electrode potential can be measured. Examples of those commonly used in corrosion are the Pt, H /H (the hydrogen electrode), Hg/Hg Clj/Cl" (the calomel electrode), Cu/CuS04/Cu, Ag/AgCl/Cl", all with fixed activities of the dissolved ions. 

In the common method of electro-gravimetric analysis, a potential slightly in excess of the decomposition potential of the electrolyte under investigation is applied, and the electrolysis allowed to proceed without further attention, except perhaps occasionally to increase the applied potential to keep the current at approximately the same value. This procedure, termed constant-current electrolysis, is (as explained in Section 12.4) of limited value for the separation of mixtures of metallic ions. The separation of the components of a mixture where the decomposition potentials are not widely separated may be effected by the application of controlled cathode potential electrolysis. An auxiliary standard electrode (which may be a saturated calomel electrode with the tip of the salt bridge very close to the cathode or working electrode) is inserted in the... 

---