Pretreated bright palladium electrode in potentiometric redox titrations Titration of Cr(2)O(7)(2-) and Ce(4+) with Fe(2+)

The behaviour of the bright palladium electrode toward the redox systems Cr(2)O(7)(2-)/Fe(2+) and Ce(4+)/Fe(2+) (in potentiometric titration) has been investigated as a function of pretreatment of the electrode. Anodization of the electrode at potentials higher than 800 mV increases DeltaE at the equivalence point by 300-400 mV for the dichromate titration. The sharp change in potential is due to the reaction between PdO(2) and Fe(2+). The equivalence point corresponds to the beginning of the potential drop, rather than the inflexion point, especially for dilute solutions. If the electrode is ignited before use the surface oxide PdO is oxidized to PdO(2) by Cr(V), the potential increases during the titration and DeltaE is 200 mV bigger than when an untreated electrode is used. In the titration of Ce(4+) with Fe(2+) the DeltaE is largest with untreated electrodes, and if the anodized electrode is used, the titration curves clearly show the reaction between PdO(2) and Fe(2+).