Effect of alkali cations,halides and thiocyanate on the Mn(Hg)/Mn(II) electrode reactions

The title subject has been studied by galvanostatic single-pulse, chronopotentiometric and equilibrium measurements on the Mn(Hg)/Mn(II) electrode (mainly saturated managanese amalgams) in one molar alkali chloride (LiCl, KCl and CsCl) and potassium iodide and thiocyanate solutions of pH 4 to 5 at 25°C. The Mn(Hg)/Mn(II) reactions are found to occur in two consecutive steps with monovalent ions as intermediate in all these solutions. The rates of both the ion-transfer step Mn(Hg)/Mn(I) and the electron-transfer step Mn(I)/Mn(II) appear independent of the cations Li⁺ and K⁺ and of the anions Cl^?, I^? and SCN^?, when differences in bulk activities of electroactive species are corrected for. The Cs⁺ ion, however, seems to retard the reactions more than expected from bulk activity changes, and this can be explained by Cs⁺ specific adsorption or by variations in the properties of the inner layer with the cation.     

Effect of halides and alkali cations on the Zn(Hg)/Zn(II) electrode reactions

The title subject has been studied by galvanostatic single-pulse, chronopotentiometric and equilibrium measurements on the Zn(Hg)/Zn(II) electrode in x M KI+(1?x) M KCl (x from 0 to 1), 1 M KBr and 1 M MeCl (Me=Li, Na, K and Cs) solutions of pH 3 at 25°C. Quantitative information about the effect of specifically adsorbed halides on the rates of the Zn(II)/Zn(I) and the Zn(I)/Zn(Hg) steps is obtained separately (for the latter step mainly at potentials near ?1.0 V(SCE)), and the latter step seems to be more influenced than the former by the adsorption. An attempt is made to correlate the adsorption effect on the rate of the Zn(II)/Zn(I) step to double-layer parameters according to recent models for such effects. The extra current observed at potentials where the halides are adsorbed, seems to vary with the surface activity of the specifically adsorbed ion. The lack of any observed kinetic effect of Cs⁺, which is specifically adsorbed at these potentials, is possibly due to the Cs⁺ specific adsorption enhancing the Cl^? specific adsorption and vice versa, so that the decelerating and accelerating effects by these ions may cancel each other.     

Effect of ammonia on the Zn(Hg)/Zn(II) electrode reactions in aqueous chloride solutions

The title subject has been studied using single pulse and chronopotentiometric polarization measurements on the Zn(Hg)/Zn(II) electrode and equilibrium measurements on the same and the Zn/Zn(II) electrode, mainly in 2 M NH₄Cl with 0–0.3 M NH₃. At low ammonia concentrations, the Zn(Hg)/Zn(II) reactions are found to occur in two consecutive charge-transfer steps with Zn(I) as intermediate, and with little or no participation of ammonia. At higher ammonia concentrations, however, nearly symmetric transfer by divalent zinc ion (α=0.5 and n=2) to and from diammine species appears to be the predominant charge-transfer step.     

Kinetics of the Zn(II)/Zn(Hg) electrode reactions in DMSO solutions of halide ions

The electrode reaction Zn(II)/Zn(Hg) in complex chloride, bromide, and iodide solutions with DMSO as solvent and ammonium perchlorate as supporting electrolyte has been studied at the equilibrium potential by the faradaic impedance method and a square-wave method. Furthermore, double-layer data have been determined by electrocapillary measurements. The results indicate that the zinc chloride and bromide complexes do not contribute noticeably to the exchange current density, while in the iodide system both the solvated zinc ion and the first complex take part in the charge transfer. From the dissimilar results valid for water and DMSO solutions the conclusion is made that probably ligand bridging at the amalgam by the halide ions is operative in water solutions, whereas in DMSO the larger solvent molecules adsorbed can form a steric hindrance to ligand bridging by chloride or bromide ions.     

Voltammetric study of the redox behaviour of the Hg(II)/Hg(I)/Hg system at a rotating metal-ring/glassy-carbon disc electrode

The reduction of Hg(II) at a glassy-carbon electrode in various electrolytes has been studied by rotating ring-disc voltammetry. Reduction proceeds directly to metallic mercury in a single 2-electron step. However, at the foot of the wave, and only during the first reduction sweep after pretreatment of the electrode surface, a small amount of Hg(I) species is detected at the ring. The appearance of an Hg(I) intermediate is most pronounced in sulphuric acid solution. The reduction of Hg(II) is found to proceed irreversibly and to be of first order. At sufficiently negative potentials the reduction is convective-diffusion controlled. Stripping voltammetric experiments indicate that the dissolution of mercury gives Hg(II) in complexing electrolytes. In non-complexing electrolytes the initially formed Hg(II) reacts with mercury atoms on the electrode surface to give Hg(I). During electrodissolution, two stripping peaks may be observed as a result of underpotential adsorption of mercury on glassy carbon. The difference in peak potential between the adsorption (mono) layer peak and the bulk mercury peak has been related to the difference in work functions of the deposit (mercury) and substrate (carbon). A rotating glassy-carbon electrode has been used for the anodic stripping determination of mercury. When an appropriate amount of a cation such as cadmium(II) or copper(II) is added to the test solution, mercury down to 2 x 10(-9)M (0.4 ng ml ) can be determined in acidified thiocyanate electrolyte with a relative standard deviation of about 22%.     

On Mn(Hg)/Mn(II) equilibria and reactions in aqueous solution

The title subject has been studied through galvanostatic single-pulse and chronopotentiometric measurements on the Mn(Hg)/Mn(II) electrode and equilibrium measurements on the same and the Ag/AgCl electrode, all in x MMnCl₂+(0.5?x)M MgCl₂ solutions of pH 4.3–4.9 at 25°C. The Mn(Hg)/Mn(II) reactions are found to occur in two consecutive steps, an unsymmetric (α_c near 0.8) ion-transfer step Mn(Hg)/Mn(I) and an essentially symmetric (α_c near 0.5) electron-transfer step Mn(I)/Mn(II). Besides charge transfer, no sluggishness other than diffusion is observed, but the dispersed precipitate Mn₂Hg₅ of saturated amalgam serves as an ageing-dependent source of anodic reactant Mn(Hg). Quantitative kinetic and thermodynamic data are presented and discussed. Comparisons are made to corresponding reactions for the succeeding elements iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc.     

Kinetics of the Hg(II)/Hg electrode reaction in DMSO solutions of chloride ions

The electrode reaction Hg(II)/Hg in complex chloride solutions with dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent has been investigated at the equilibrium potential by the faradaic impedance method and a cyclic current-step method. The ionic strength was 1 M with ammonium perchlorate as supporting electrolyte, and the temperature was 25°C. Double-layer data have been determined by electrocapillary measurements. From the results of the kinetic measurements at ligand numbers ≤1.1 or ≥2.3 it is concluded that the overall charge transfer proceeds step-wise. The solvated Hg²⁺ and Hg₂²⁺ as well as the complexes HgCl_j^2?j and the dinuclear Hg₂Cl³⁺ contribute to the exchange current density. The rate constant of the step HgCl_j^2?j/ Hg(I) is found to increase with the number of Cl^? coordinated. This increase can be correlated to a decrease in solvation and a lengthening of the Hg?Cl distance. For 1.1 << 2.3, impedance measurements indicate a rate-controlling adsorption step. It is suggested that the uncharged HgCl₂ then forms an adsorbed network on the mercury surface.     

On Cu(Hg)/Cu(II) equilibria and reactions in aqueous sulphate solution

Combined thermodynamic and kinetic studies have revealed amalgam properties, solution activities, and diffusion data besides charge-transfer parameters and exchange rates for either step of the Cu(Hg)/Cu(II) electrode in aqueous solutions of xM CuSO₄+(0.5?x) M MgSO₄+H₂SO₄ (to pH about 2.5) at 25°C. The studies allow separation of mean ionic activities into convenient single-ion ones. The kinetic results demonstrate the consecutive two-step mechanism involved. Comparison is made to the solid Cu/Cu(II) electrode, and double-layer effects are discussed.     

Single-ion activities and Mn(Hg)/Mn(II) reactions in aqueous solutions of alkaline-earth chlorides

Combined thermodynamic and kinetic studies have yielded convenient single-ion activity coefficients for manganese(II), alkaline-earth, and chloride ions and standard exchange currents for the two steps of the Mn(Hg)/Mn(II) electrode in 0.005 M MnCl₂+0.495 M MeCl₂ (for Me=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Mn) at 25°C. The results indicate that the fall in mean ionic activity coefficient for the alkaline-earth chlorides along the sequence from magnesium to barium is carried to a larger extent by the cation than by the anion, that also the activity coefficient for the minority cation Mn(II) falls along this sequence, and that other than activity-coefficient effects on the Mn(Hg)/Mn(II) reactions appear only with barium ions, which retard the reactions additionally. The results are discussed with emphasis on ionic interactions and double-layer effects.     

Influence of water activity on the Ni(II)/Ni(Hg) electrode reaction in concentrated Ca(ClO4)2 solutions in the temperature range 20–185°C

The electrode reaction of the Ni(II)/Ni(Hg) system occurring in 4–13.7 mol kg^?1 solutions of Ca(ClO₄)₂ in the temperature range 20–185°C was studied by means of pulse polarography and cyclic voltammetry. From analysis of the formal potentials with respect to the ferricinium ionferrocene electrode as a function of the logarithm of the water activity, the hydration numbers of Ni(II) were found. They decrease as both the molality of Ca(ClO₄)₂ and the temperature increase. Limiting values of hydration numbers at both high temperature and concentration of Ca(ClO₄)₂ were near to 6. The electrode reaction proceeds in a step-wise manner with the Ni(I)/Ni(Hg) system controlling the rate of the overall process.The rate constants at formal potentials under different conditions are presented.The electrode reaction orders are determined with respect to the water point to the participation of Ni(H₂O)₄⁺ in the rate-determining step.     

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.     

Spurenbestimmung von Hg(I)/Hg(II) oder Hg(0)/Hg(I) nebeneinander sowie indirekte Bestimmung von Hg-komplexierenden Anionen mit dem Kaltdampf-AAS-Verfahren

Zusammenfassung Die Anwendung des Kaltdampf-Verfahrens für die Speziesanalyse des Quecksilbers wurde untersucht. Wechselwirkungen von Hg(II) mit Hg(0) zu Hg(I) und mit komplexierenden Anionen machen folgende Bestimmungen möglich: Hg(II) und Hg(I) nebeneinander, Hg(0)-Gehalt der Luft sowie neben Hg(I) und Quecksilberkomplexierende Anionen. Die Verfahren beruhen darauf, daß Hg(II) infolge Synproportionierung ein Entweichen des Hg(0) in den Gasraum unterdrückt. Erst nach Komplexierung des Hg(II) ist dies möglich. Im Signalverlauf der Extinktionskurve sind zwei Punkte maßgebend: Aus dem Offsetpunkt ergibt sich der Gehalt an Hg(II) und aus der Extinktion die Hg(I)-Menge. Das Verhältnis von Hg(II)Hg(I) muß mindestens 21 betragen. Die Bestimmungsgrenze liegt im ppb-Bereich.

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Simultaneous trace determination of Hg(I)/Hg(II) or Hg(0)/Hg(I) and indirect determination of mercury complexing anions by means of cold-vapor-AAS

Summary The employment of the cold-vapor AAS for the species analysis of mercury has been tested. Interactions of Hg(II) with Hg(0) to Hg(I) on the one hand and with complexing anions on the other hand allow the following determinations: Hg(II) and Hg(I) in the same solution, Hg(0) in the air and in the presence of Hg(I), mercury complexing anions in a solution. The procedure depends on the fact that Hg(II) represses the vaporization of Hg(0) as a consequence of synproportionation.The vaporization is only possible after complexing the Hg(II). Two points of the absorption curve are important: the point of offset allows the calculation of Hg(II) and the absorption is proportional to the quantity of Hg(I). The ratio of Hg(II)Hg(I) has to be 21 (minimum). The determination limit is at the ppb-level.

     

Water-activity and double-layer effects on the Fe(II)/Fe(Hg) reaction

The title subject is studied by electrode-kinetic measurements in acetate buffered potassium chloride and magnesium sulphate solutions of varied concentration at 25°C, using literature data for activity and double-layer properties. The results indicate that the Fe(II)/Fe(Hg) reaction occurs by an essentially symmetric (α near 1/2) ferrous-ion transfer (n=2), that this transfer is second order in water-activity dependence, and that it exhibits a smaller than classically expected double-layer effect. No specific interaction appears for any of the ions of the supporting salts. An e.c. reaction scheme is proposed for the Fe(Hg)/Fe(II) electrode in non-complexing aqueous solution.     

Influence of sulfide and cyanide ions on the electrochemical behavior of the Fe(II)/Fe(Hg) system in thiocyanate solutions at mercury electrodes

The reduction and reoxidation processes of the Fe(II)/Fe(Hg) system in thiocyanate solutions at stationary mercury electrodes have been investigated by cyclic voltammetric, anodic stripping and controlled potential electrolysis methods. In 0.1 M NaSCN and 0.4 M NaClO₄ solution containing 1×10^?3M Fe(II), the voltammogram on the first cycle at. 0.05 V s^?1 gives two consecutive cathodic peaks near ?1.2 and ?1.39 V with a hysteresis on the reversal, and an anodic wave with two large peaks near ?0.58 and ?0.05 V and two small peaks near ?0.52 and ?0.43 V, respectively. The multicyclic voltammogram under the same conditions in the potential region between 0.00 and ?1.50 V gives a cathodic wave with a principal peak near ?1.02 V and two small peaks near ?0.02 and ?0.53 V, respectively, and an anodic wave with a principal peak near ?0.72 V, three small peaks near ?0.64, ?0.52 and ?0.40 V, and with a shoulder near ?0.05 V, respectively. The variation of the shape of the voltammogram on the second and subsequent runs is due to the formation of S^2? and CN^? during the process of electroreduction of Fe(II). A mechanism is proposed which involves an initial reduction of Fe(II)?SCN^? produced in an activation step at a mercury electrode, followed by the chemical redox reaction of a part of Fe(0)?SCN^? in the species giving FeS and CN^?, and takes into account the influence of FeS and CN^? on the further reduction and reoxidation of iron. Both FeS and CN^? stimulate further reduction, and reoxidation of iron. The hysteresis of the cathodic wave on the first cycle arises from the fact that Fe(II) is reduced more easily at the mercury electrode covered with FeS than at a pure mercury electrode.     

The electrochemical Peltier effect observed with electrode reactions of Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox couples at a gold electrode

The electrochemical Peltier effect was studied at a gold electrode in solutions containing some Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox couples by measuring the local temperature change in the electrode/solution interphase under controlled-potential and controlled-current polarization. Relative values of the electrochemical Peltier coefficient for the cathodic process at equilibrium potential, which is denoted by (Π_c)_I=0, were determined by analyzing the observed temperature change as a function of current. The values of (Π_c)_I=0 were found to be positive for the Fe(H₂O)₆²⁺/Fe(H₂O)₆³⁺ systems in HClO₄ (1 M), HNO₃ (1 M), H₂SO₄ (0.5 M), and HCl (1 M), their magnitudes being very similar in the first three acid solutions, but smaller in the HCl solution. On the other hand, a negative value of (Π_c)_I=0 was obtained in the case of a Fe(CN)₆^4?/Fe(CN)₆^3? couple in a H₂SO₄ (0.5 M) solution. Such a difference in the Peltier coefficient is considered to be due to the difference in the ionic species of iron involved in the electrode reaction.