Electrode potentials amalgam

The electrode potential of aluminium would lead us to expect attack by water. The inertness to water is due to the formation of an unreactive layer of oxide on the metal surface. In the presence of mercury, aluminium readily forms an amalgam (destroying the original surface) which is. therefore, rapidly attacked by water. Since mercury can be readily displaced from its soluble salts by aluminium, contact with such salts must be avoided if rapid corrosion and weakening of aluminium structures is to be prevented. 

Despite its electrode potential (p. 98), very pure zinc has little or no reaction with dilute acids. If impurities are present, local electrochemical cells are set up (cf the rusting of iron. p. 398) and the zinc reacts readily evolving hydrogen. Amalgamation of zinc with mercury reduces the reactivity by giving uniformity to the surface. Very pure zinc reacts readily with dilute acids if previously coated with copper by adding copper(II) sulphate ... 

The silver reductor has a relatively low reduction potential (the Ag/AgCl electrode potential in 1M hydrochloric acid is 0.2245 volt), and consequently it is not able to effect many of the reductions which can be made with amalgamated zinc. The silver reductor is preferably used with hydrochloric acid solutions, and this is frequently an advantage. The various reductions which can be effected with the silver and the amalgamated zinc reductors are summarised in Table 10.11. ... 

Reductant equivalent weights of, 847 Reduction 409 by chromium(II) salts, 409 by hydrogen sulphide, 416 by Jones reductor (zinc amalgam), 410 by liquid amalgams, 412 by silver reductor, 414 by sulphurous acid, 416 by tin(II) chloride, 415 by titanium(II[), 410 by vanadium(II), 410 see also Iron(III), reduction of Reduction potentials 66 Reference electrodes potentials, (T) 554 Relative atomic masses (T) 819 Relative error 134 mean deviation, 134... 

When eliminating the liquid junction potential by one of the methods described in Section 2.5.3, we obtain a concentration cell without transport. The value of its EMF is given simply by the difference between the two electrode potentials. More exactly than by the described elimination of the liquid junction potential, a concentration cell without transport can be obtained by using amalgam electrodes or electrodes of the second kind. 

Potentiometric EDTA titrations are best carried out with a mercury pool electrode (Figure 5.6) or a gold amalgam electrode. When this electrode dips into a solution containing the analyte together with a small amount of added Hg-EDTA complex, three interdependent reactions occur. For example, at pH = 8 the half cell reaction (a) which determines the electrode potential is related to the solution equilibrium by (b) and (c). 

The use of lithium amalgam electrodes allows better control of electrode potential than the potassium amalgam electrode. Separations of Sm from Gd, Eu from Sm, Sm from Eu and of Yb from heavy rare earths have been successfully carried out by Onstott [135—137]. 

Figure 16.4 Cyclic voltammogram of 4.5 mM 2,3-dinitro-2,3-dimethylbutane in N,N-dimethylformamide/0.20 M Bu4NPF6 at a 25-pm-diameter mercury electrode. Curves experimental voltammograms after subtraction of background current. Points digital simulations. Potentials referred to cadmium reference electrode [cadmium amalgam/CdCl2 (sat d) in DMF]. [Reprinted with permission from W.J. Bowyer and D.H. Evans, J. Org. Chem. 53 5234 (1988). Copyright 1988 American Chemical Society.]...

The following table lists the standard electrode potentials (in V) of some electrodes of the first kind.1-3 These are divided into cationic and anionic electrodes. In cationic electrodes, equilibrium is established between atoms or molecules of the substance and the corresponding cations in solution. Examples include metal, amalgam, and the hydrogen electrode. In anionic electrodes, equilibrium is achieved between molecules and the corresponding anions in solution. The potential of the electrode is given by the Nemst equation in the form... 

Weston normal element (cell) — Electrochemical -> standard cell showing a particularly stable and reproducible cell voltage. In the international Weston normal element a cadmium amalgam (cadmium content in the solid phase approx. 15 wt %, in the liquid phase approx. 5wt%, total average 12 to 12.5 wt%, the electrode potential depends only on the temperature, not on the mass ratio of liquid and solid phases) and a mercury electrode (half-cell) are combined according to... 

Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) was applied to the determination of copper traces present as Cu(dik)2. The differential pulse technique was used to strip the amalgamated copper from a hanging mercury drop electrode. The experimental variables such as scan rate of electrode potential, deposition potential, deposition time and stirring speed of the solution could be optimized. The linear range of the calibration plot was 0.05-1 (xM and the LOD was 0.014 fiM Cu(II). A method was used for the determination of copper in breast milk and beer as typical examples of application, consisting of minerahzation of the sample, extraction of Cu(II) from the aqueous solution with a 1 M solution of acacH in chloroform and ASV end analysis . 

Liquid amalgams For the liquid amalgams of zinc, cadmium, lead, and bismuth, the potentials do not differ widely from those of solid metals, for the following reasons. ° ° If solid metal is added to mercury, a solid phase eventually is formed, and at equilibrium both phases of the saturated, two-phase amalgam must have the same electrode potential. The emf of the cell... 

The basic kinetics of the amalgam, the diaphragm, and the membrane cells are discussed according to Fig. 11, containing reversible electrode potentials and current-potential relationships. 

Boden, D.P. Wylie, R.B. Spera, V.J. The electrode potential of zinc amalgam in alkaline... 

The standard electrode potential is then given as -2.37 V for the Fm + + 2e = Fm° reaction. The authors estimated 5 mV accuracy for the measured half-wave potential seems reasonable, but there is a much larger uncertainty in the estimated amalgamation potential. Because the amalgamation potential represents a large correction in obtaining the standard potential, caution should be exercised in combining this standard potential with other data to calculate additional thermodynamic properties. 

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