Oxidation processes at mercury electrodes for tetraphenyllead and related compounds in dichloromethane

Two oxidation waves are observed at mercury electrodes for tetraphenyllead in dichloromethane. The mechanisms of the oxidation processes have been investigated by dc and differential pulse polarography. The first wave is a broad two-electron step and represents the summation of a number of processes related to mercury exchange and halide abstraction. The exchange reactions are as follows: 2 Φ₄Pb + Hg→2Φ₃Pb⁺ + Φ₂Hg+2e^? 2 Φ₃Pb⁺ + Hg→2Φ₂Pb²⁺ + Φ₂Hg+2e^? Dichloroethane and HgCl₂ are identified as products of controlled potential electrolysis experiments as well as Φ₂Hg and Φ₂PbCl₂ implying that the coordinatively unsaturated Φ₃Pb⁺ and/or Φ₂Pb²⁺ react with the solvent dichloromethane and abstract chloride. The second oxidation process is the two electron step. Φ₂Hg+Hg→2 ΦHg⁺ + 2e^?Tetraalkyllead compounds (tetramethyl, tetraethyl, tetrabutyl) also give rise to related electrode processes at mercury electrodes and polarographic techniques may form the basis of a method for their analytical determination if separated chromatographically prior to detection.     

Benzeneselenolates of Mercury(II). Crystal and Molecular Structures of [Hg(SePh)2] and (Bu4N)[Hg(SePh)3]

The reaction of dibenzenediselenide, (SePh)₂, with mercury in refluxing xylene gives bis(benzeneselenolato)mercury(II), [Hg(SePh)₂], in a good yield. (ⁿBu₄N)[Hg(SePh)₃] is obtained by the reaction of [Hg(SePh)₂] with a solution of [SePh]^– and (ⁿBu₄N)Br in ethanol. The solid state structures of both compounds have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The mercury atom in [Hg(SePh)₂] (space group C2, a = 7.428(2), b = 5.670(1), c = 14.796(4) Å, β = 103.60(1)°) is linearly co-ordinated by two selenium atoms (Hg–Se = 2.471(2) Å, Se–Hg–Se = 178.0(3)°). Additional weak interactions between the metal and selenium atoms of neighbouring molecules (Hg…Se = 3.4–3.6 Å) associate the [Hg(SePh)₂] units to layers. The crystal structure of (ⁿBu₄N)[Hg(SePh)₃] (space group P2₁/c, a = 9.741(1), b = 17.334(1), c = 21.785(1) Å, β = 95.27(5)°) consists of discrete complex anions and (ⁿBu₄N)⁺ counter ions. The coordination geometry of mercury is distorted trigonal-planar with Hg–Se distances ranging between 2.5 and 2.6 Å.     

Interfering influence of silver on the voltammetric behaviour of Cd2+ and Zn2+ ions on hmde in supporting electrolytes containing nitrates

A new kind of secondarily formed peaks was found in cyclic and stripping voltammetry in neutral sulphate, perchlorate and nitrate supporting electrolytes containing some divalent cations and a substance (for example O₂), the reduction of which gives as a by-product OH^? ions. The hydroxides deposited in the vicinity of the mercury electrode, in the course of a cathodic scan, react during the anodic scan according to the reaction Hg+Me(OH)₂=Hg(OH)₂+Me²⁺+2e forming a new, separate anodic peak.It was found that silver exerts a catalytic effect on the reduction of NO₃^? ions on the mercury electrode. In neutral nitrate supporting electrolyte containing Ag⁺ ions the hydroxides of some cations (Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺) were deposited during the cathodic scan or during the preelectrolysis. Afterwards, in the course of the anodic scan, a new peak, of the kind described above, was observed. The same effect was formerly interpreted, for Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺, as evidence for the formation of intermetallic compounds, AgZn and AgCd.     

Normal pulse polarographic quantification of cyanide and sulfide by the anodization of mercury

Normal pulse polarography is used to quantify cyanide and sulfide simultaneously by the anodic oxidation of mercury. The detection limit for cyanide is 18 μg l^-1 by the normal pulse polarographic technique. A supporting electrolyte system of 1 M Na₂CO₃ is optimal with regard to background interferences and sample loss. The electrode reaction for the oxidation of mercury in the presence of cyanide can be described by Hg + pCN^- α Hg(CN)_p^2-p + 2e^-, with p having values of 2, 3 and 4 depending on the surface concentration of cyanide. The feasibility of simultaneous cyanide and sulfide quantification is demonstrated with waste-water samples.     

Hg2(OH)[BF4], the First Basic Mercurous Tetrafluoroborate

The first basic mercurous tetrafluoroborate, Hg₂(OH)[BF₄], was obtained through a synproportionation reaction of red mercuric oxide, HgO, and elemental mercury in a 35% solution of HBF₄ in water as colourless single crystals. The crystal structure (orthorhombic, Pbca, Z = 8, a = 985.0(1), b = 991.0(1), c = 1141.0(2) pm) contains [(HO)_1/2—Hg—Hg—(OH)_1/2]⁺ zig‐zag chains that are further connected via weak Hg—OH interchain interactions to layers between which the [BF₄]^— are located in an up and down fashion.     

Sensitive electrochemical DNA-based biosensors for the determination of Ag<Superscript>+</Superscript> and Hg<Superscript>2+</Superscript> ions and their application in analysis of amalgam filling

In the present paper, we used single-stranded poly-T (100% thymine bases) and poly-C (100% cytosine bases) nucleic acids as DNA probes for selective and sensitive individual electrochemical determination of Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺_, respectively, on the multi-walled carbon nanotube paste electrodes (MWCNTPEs) using [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? as electroactive labels. In the presence of Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺, the probe–Hg²⁺/Ag⁺ interactions through T–Hg²⁺–T and C–Ag⁺–C complexes formation could cause the formation of a unimolecular hybridized probe. This structure of probe led to its partial depletion from electrode surface and facilitation of electron transfer between [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? redox couple and electrode surface, resulting in the enhanced differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) oxidation current of [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? at the probe-modified electrode surface. We applied the difference in the oxidation peak currents of [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? before and after Hg²⁺/Ag⁺–DNA probe bonding (?I) for electrochemical determination of these heavy metal ions. Detection limits were 8.0?×?10^?12 M and 1.0?×?10^?11 M for Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions determination, respectively. The biosensors were utilized to determine the weight percent of toxic metals, i.e., silver and mercury in dental amalgam filling composition. The results of their practical applicability in analysis of the amalgam sample were satisfactory.     

Mercury(II) polyphosphate,Hg(PO3)2

Single crystals of mercury(II) polyphosphate, Hg(PO₃)₂, were prepared from HgO in an acidic polyphosphate melt. The structure is isotypic with α‐Cd(PO₃)₂ and comprises infinite polyphosphate chains with a period of four phosphate units. Chains of the form ¹_∞[PO₃^?] are linked by Hg²⁺ to form a three‐dimensional network. The Hg atom is located at the centre of a distorted octahedron of O atoms with distances 2.173 (5) < (Hg—O)_mean < 2.503 (6) Å. The [HgO₆] polyhedra form zigzag‐like chains of the form ¹_∞[HgO₂O_4/2] parallel to the c axis.     

The crystal structures of two Mercury Perrhenates

The mercury perrhenates with the empirical formulas HgReO₄ and Hg₂ReO₅ were prepared by annealing powdered mixtures of mercury(II)oxide and mercury(II)metaperrhenate Hg(ReO₄)₂ in sealed silica tubes. Their crystal structures were determined from single-crystal X-ray data. HgReO₄ crystallizes dimeric with nearly linear O₃Re? O? Hg? Hg? O? ReO₃ molecular units and Hg₂ReO₅ has a solid state structure, where Hg(I) and Hg(II) together with oxygen atoms form 14-membered rings, which are condensed to two-dimensionally infinite polycationic nets of composition (Hg₂²⁺ · 2 HgO)_n. These nets are separated from each other by tetrahedral ReO₄^? anions.     

Products of the Radiation-Chemical and Thermal Decomposition of Mercury Fulminate

The products of the radiation-chemical and thermal decomposition of mercury fulminate were examined by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Upon radiolysis to 20% conversion, the fulminate ion underwent decomposition (G (decomposition) = 20 molecule/100 eV) with the formation of HgO (G = 9 ± 1 molecule/100 eV), CN^– ions, and CO₂. The final solid products of the radiolysis are Hg(CNH)₂, a cyanide complex, the mercury carbonate oxide HgCO₃ · 3HgO, the mercury cyanide oxide Hg(CN)₂ · HgO, and paracyanogen (CN)_n. In the thermolysis, the final solid products of decomposition are the mercury carbonate oxide HgCO₃ · 2HgO, a cyanide complex, and the cluster Hg_nC_mN_oO_p.     

Oxygen evolution on SrFeO3 electrode

Oxygen evolution reactions on SrFeO₃ were investigated in alkaline and acidic solutions. It was found that the catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction in the alkaline solution is high. The following reaction steps (V)+Fe+2H₂O→(O)+FeOH₂+2H⁺+2e^? in acidic solution and FeOH+OH^?→FeO^?+H₂O in alkaline solution are presumed to be rate-controlling in the anodic evolution of oxygen on SrFeO₃ electrode, where (V) denotes oxygen vacancy on the electrode surface. The reaction mechanism and the catalytic property are discussed in connection to the band structure of the oxide.     

Disupersilylperoxo Radical Anion [tBu3SiOOSitBu3]⋅−: An Intermediate of Supersilanide Oxidation

In the oxidative process of the supersilanide anion [SitBu₃]^?, radical species are generated. The continuous wave (cw)‐EPR spectrum of the reaction solution of Na[SitBu₃] with O₂ revealed a signal, which could be characterized as disupersilylperoxo radical anion [tBu₃SiOOSitBu₃]^?? affected by sodium ions though ion‐pair formation. A mechanism is suggested for the oxidative process of supersilanide, which in a further step can be helpful in a better understanding of the oxidation process of isoelectronic phosphanes.     

Some observations on the systems Co2(CO)8/sodium amalgam and Hg[Co(CO)4]2/sodium amalgam,and the effect of added LiBr

Co₂(CO)₈ and Hg[Co(CO)₄]₂ react sodium amalgam and/or mercury in ethereal solvents to give a variety of products. On treatment with aqueous M(o-phen)₃Cl₂(M  Fe, Ni), the anions [Co(CO)₄^?, [Co₃(CO)₁₀]^?, {Hg[Co(CO)₄]₃}^? and {Hg[Co(CO)₄]₂Cl}^? could be isolated as their [M(o-phen)₃]²⁺ salts. The effect of LiBr on the reacting systems was also investigated and the anion {Hg[Co(CO)₄]₂Br}^? isolated.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the Cu(I)/Cu(Hg) electrode reactions in DMSO solutions of halide ions

The electrode reaction Cu(I)/Cu(Hg) in complex chloride, bromide and iodide solutions with DMSO as solvent has been studied at the equilibrium potential by the faradiac impedance method and a cyclic current-step method. The kinetic data refer to the ionic strength 1 M with ammonium perchlorate as supporting electrolyte and to the temperature 25°C. Double-layer data have been obtained from electrocapillary measurements. From the results for the chloride system at [Cl^?]>15 mM it is concluded that the charge transfer is catalysed by ligand bridging at the amalgam and the following parallel reactions predominate: Cl_ads^?-Cu⁺+e^?(am)Cl_ads^?+Cu(am) Cl_ads^?-Cu₂Cl_j^2?j+e^?(am)Cl_ads^?+Cu(am)+CuCl_j^1?j At lower [Cl^?] and in the whole ligand concentration range available in the bromide and iodide systems the impedance measurements indicate a rate-controlling adsorption step. It is suggested that uncharged complex CuL (L^?=halide ion) then forms an adsorbed two-dimensional network on the amalgam surface.     

The thermodynamic viability of yttria-stabilized zirconia pH sensors for high temperature aqueous solutions

The thermodynamic viability of the yttria-stabilized zirconia sensor (YSZS) [H₂O, H⁺/ZrO₂(Y₂O₃)/HgO/Hg] for the measurement of pH in high temperature aqueous solutions is evaluated by measuring potentials for this electrode and a conventional hydrogen electrode (HE) against a common reference electrode in a variety of solutions [0.01m H₃PO₄, 1m Na₂SO₄, 0.01m B(OH)₃+0.01m KOH, and 0.01m KOH] at temperatures from 298.15K (25°C) to 573.115K (300°C). In order to compare theoretical and experimental potentials for the cell

A Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Water

Oxygen reduction and water oxidation are two key processes in fuel cell applications. The oxidation of water to dioxygen is a 4 H⁺/4 e^? process, while oxygen can be fully reduced to water by a 4 e^?/4 H⁺ process or partially reduced by fewer electrons to reactive oxygen species such as H₂O₂ and O₂^?. We demonstrate that a novel manganese corrole complex behaves as a bifunctional catalyst for both the electrocatalytic generation of dioxygen as well as the reduction of dioxygen in aqueous media. Furthermore, our combined kinetic, spectroscopic, and electrochemical study of manganese corroles adsorbed on different electrode materials (down to a submolecular level) reveals mechanistic details of the oxygen evolution and reduction processes.     

The galvanostatic double-pulse method in the study of the kinetics of stepwise electrode reactions

Analysis of the kinetics of the overall electrode reaction Me⁰ ? e^? = Me²⁺ proceeding through the three consecutive charge-transfer steps Me⁰ ? e^? = Me⁺ Me⁺ ? e^? = Me²⁺ Me²⁺ ? e^? = Me³⁺ involving non-adsorbed intermediates under transient single- and double-galvanostatic conditions has been made. Curves of η ? t were plotted and change of intermediate concentrations with time were calculated numerically for different ratios of exchange current densities. It is shown that when the time of reaching the steady-state, caused by the rate levelling of single-electron steps considerably exceeds the time of double-layer charging by the short duration current impulse, the employment of the galvanostatic double-pulse method allows the stepwise electrode process under non-stationary conditions to be investigated and information about the kinetics of the fastest steps in the reaction sequence to be obtained. Comparison of the conclusions of the analysis and experiment has been carried out by the galvanostatic double-pulse method in the stepwise electrode reaction Bi⁰ ?3 e^? = Bi(III) on an amalgam electrode in 2 M HClO₄ solutions.     

Kinetics of electrochemical reactions on the Ag(Hg)/Ag4RbI5 interface

The electrochemical behaviour of the Ag(Hg)/Ag₄RbI₅ interface is investigated by a potentiostatic pulse method. It is found that the rate-determining step of the electrode reaction is electron transfer with an exchange current density of 68 mA cm^–2 and a transfer coefficient of approximately 0.45. The order of the electrochemical reaction for silver oxidation is estimated from polarization investigations of silver amalgam in various concentrations. From this it is deduced that the mercury is ionized and is implanted in the electrolyte together with silver under anodic polarization: 15Ag+85Hg–100e^–→15Ag⁺+85Hg⁺. From comparison of the electrochemical behaviour of the Ag(Hg)/Ag₄RbI₅ and Ag/Ag₄RbI₅ interfaces it is concluded that the rate of anodic silver dissolution on the Ag/Ag₄RbI₅ interface is limited by crystallization effects. Electronic Publication     

The CuII−CuI−Cu0(Hg) system in the presence of benzotriazole: Part I. A polarographic investigation

A polarographic investigation of Cu^II electroreduction from solutions of benzotriazole (BTA) of pH from 1 to 3 at a dropping mercury electrode shows the presence of two successive adsorption waves of equal height (waves Ic and IIIc) due, respectively, to the formation and to the subsequent dissolution of an adsorbed film of a Cu^I compound. The dependence of the half-wave potential of wave IIIc, which is polarographically reversible, upon pH and BTA concentration indicates that the adsorbed film has the composition [Cu^I(BTA^?)], where BTA^? denotes the deprotonated anionic form of benzotriazole. Moreover, the maximum height of wave IIIc indicates that this film is one monolayer thick. A third cathodic wave (wave IIc), lying between waves Ic and IIIc, stems from the reduction to the metal state of the Cu^II ions diffusing from the bulk solution. Copper(0) oxidation at dropping amalgam electrodes in BTA solutions yields two successive adsorption waves (waves Ia and IIa). Wave Ia is due to the same electrode process, Cu⁰ (Hg)+BTA?Cu^I(BTA^?)+H⁺+e, responsible for the cathodic wave IIIc. On the other hand, wave IIa is due to the formation of roughly two adsorbed monolayers of [Cu^I(BTA^?)] upon that formed along wave Ia.     

Preparation of an Electrode Modified with an Electropolymerized Film as a Mediator of NADH Oxidation and Its Application in an Ethanol/O2 Biofuel Cell

This paper reports a novel mediator for the oxidation of β‐nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺/NADH), an electropolymeric film (pAPRu) of [Ru(NH₂‐phen)₃]²⁺. A pAPRu‐modified electrode was prepared via electropolymerization and exhibited catalytic activity toward the electrochemical oxidation of NADH due to the imine moieties of pAPRu. The electrochemical oxidation of ethanol was observed using an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)‐immobilized electrode. A compartmentless ethanol/O₂ biofuel cell composed of an ADH anode and a bilirubin oxidase cathode was constructed. The maximum current density and the maximum power density of the biofuel cell were 190 µA cm^?2 and 31 µW cm^?2 (at 0.29 V), respectively.     

Chemical and electrochemical oxidation of metallocenes,reactions of metallocenes with mercury salts

The products of chemical and electrochemical oxidation of metallocenes, (C₅H₅)₂M (M  Fe, Ru, Os), were investigated. (C₅H₅)₂Fe on Pt and Hg anodes was oxidized to the ferricenium cation while the electrolysis of osmocene on Pt electrode led to the previously unknown (C₅H₅)₂Os^oBF₄^? salt and oxidation of ruthenocene yielded the unstable (C₅H₅)₂Ru²⁺ cation. On a mercury electrode Ru and Os metallocenes gave the adducts [(C₅H₅)₂M]₂Hg(BF₄)₂. The stability constants of mercury-containing complexes were calculated using the polarographic data. The chemical interaction of metallocenes with HgX₂ also gave mercury-containing adducts. Chemical oxidation of ruthenocene resulted in salts with the metal in the +4 formal oxidation state.