Conventions for presentation of electrochemical data

In the past, different sign conventions were used in electrochemistry, which led to difficulty in interpretation of experiments and results. Consequently the electrochemical literature requires an understanding of this problem to avoid confusion. The approach followed in this book is summarised in this section. As pointed out in the previous section, all electrochemical cells are regarded as a combination of two half cells, with each of the latter represented by a half reaction written as a reduction  

As will be explained in more detail further in this book, each half-reaction corresponds to a potential and can be calculated by means of the Nernst equation3-5  

In addition, in the graphical presentation of data, different conventions are used, giving rise to problems in the interpretation and comparison of results. However, a good convention will not cause any problems. In this book (Fig. 1.2) positive potentials are directed to the right of the origin, and anodic (oxidation) currents are taken as positive (directed upward from the 

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