The electroreduction (polarographically) of uranyl ion in nitric acid and nitric acid-methanol mixture media

Abstract

The polarographic reduction of uranyl ion in nitric acid solution are found to be one electron reduction mechanism at lower acid concentration (0.1 M HNO 3) and two electron mechanism at high acid concentration (2M HNO 3). Methanol shifted the half wave potentials to more negative values and increased the free energy. The free energies of reduction of U(VI) to U(V) in these mixed solvents are inversely proportional to both the dielectric constants and Gutman's Acceptor number of methanol. The U(V) is stable at pH 3, but its dismutation increased at lower and higher pH's than pH 3.