The manganese(IV) oxide electrode as a manganese(II) sensor

Manganese(IV) oxide electrodes formed with a graphite/PTFE substrate are shown to have near-theoretical response to manganese(II) ions in pH-4 acetate medium and a sub-Nernstian response in 0.1M nitric acid medium. Lead and iron(III) ions interfere, and iron(II) ions even more so, but other bivalent transition metal ions have little effect. The main drawback of this type of electrode is its long response time (~ 20 min). Some attempts to use manganese(IV) oxide electrodes as the basis for phosphate electrodes by use of MnHPO(4).3H(2)O and MnNH(4)PO(4).H(2)O are also described.