Electrochemistry

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ElectrochemistryChemical reactions at an electrode, galvanic and electrolytic cellsA Chem1 Reference TextStephen K. Lower Simon Fraser University1Table of contents1:Chemistry and electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Electroneutrality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Potential differences at interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52:Electrochemical cells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Transport of charge within the cell.

themselves to the electrode surface— normally only a few atomic diameters. Thus a very small voltage can produce a very large potential gradient. For example, a potential differ-ence of one volt across a typical 10–8 cm interfacial boundary amounts to a potential gradi-ent of 100 million volts per centimeter— a very significant value indeed!

  Surfaces, Voltage, Electrochemistry