Catalytic polarographic wave of cobalt(II) in sodium azide with hydrazoic acid

Extensive catalytic waves of Co(II) are observed in N₃^?/HN₃ buffers, in which hydrogen discharge is not the dominant process, but rather HN₃ reduction to NH₄⁺ and N₂. Cobalt(I) was shown to be the active intermediate of the catalytic process. The rate-determing step was found to be the Co(I) reduction to the metal. Heterogeneous rate constants were calculated and relationships with average ligand number were derived.