Adsorption effect of the participants in the electrode and pre-electrode reactions upon the kinetics of electrochemical processes

Abstract

The equations are derived for the hump-like shape of surface kinetic polarographic waves, ie for the waves of processes with the adsorption of participants in the chemical reactions preceding the electrochemical step proper. If the rate of the surface chemical reaction is great enough the wave height reaches the diffusion limiting current; the shape of this “quasi-diffusion” surface wave at very small coverages of electrode with the adsorbed participant only, seemingly obeys the equation for the simple irreversible polarographic wave. The peculiarities of the quasi-diffusion surface wave are considered. The quasi-diffusion waves are common in polarography of organic compounds the reduction of which involves proton consumption at the potential-determining step.