Electrochemical studies of trivalent californium and selected trivalent lanthanides in aqueous solution

Abstract

D.c. polarographic and cyclic voltammetric studies have been carried out on aqueous solutions (10 −4−10 −3 M) of 249Cf, Sm and Gd. From the present data and the established electrochemical behavior of Sm and Gd, it can be inferred that Cf(III) is reduced in two steps at the mercury-drop electrode, first to Cf(II), followed by the Cf(II) being reduced to Cf(Hg). The potentials for the two electrochemical steps are −1.47 and −1.68V vs NHE, respectively.