Mechanistic aspects electrochemical treatment

This section presents phenomenological and theoretical features of mechanistically simple electrochemical processes in a parallel manner to the corresponding treatment for homogeneous electron transfer in 12.2.3. Discussion, therefore, will be limited to the elementary single-electron transfer process itself and restricted to thermal-electron transfer at metal-solution interfaces, although some aspects are common to all types of interfacial charge-transfer processes. Although narrow in scope, this approach serves to illustrate the relationship between, and the common features of, electron transfer at electrodes and in bulk solution. 

In this volume we begin the treatment of reactions that stand outside the strict framework of our systematic plan- for the formation of bonds between the elements. The opening chapter encompasses the phenomenon of electron transfer in chemical systems and describes electrode processes and electrochemical reactions in both their mechanistic and synthetic aspects. These subjects were specifically deleted from the otherwise comprehensive stepwise element by element treatment that preceded this volume where changes in oxidation state were not covered. 

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