Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that studies the relationship between electrical quantities and chemical reactions, particularly oxidation and reduction. Oxidation is the loss of electrons from a substance, whereas reduction refers to the gain of electrons. A substance with a strong electron affinity is called an oxidizing agent (oxidant), and a reducing agent (reductant) is a species that donates electrons. Oxidation and reduction processes are pivotal to electrochemical reactions,...

In a galvanic cell, the electrical work is done by a redox system on its surroundings as electrons produced by the spontaneous redox reactions are transferred through an external circuit. Alternatively, an external circuit does work on a redox system by imposing a voltage sufficient to drive an otherwise nonspontaneous reaction in a process known as electrolysis. For instance, recharging a battery involves the use of an external power source to drive the spontaneous (discharge) cell reaction in...

Electrodeposition is a technique used to separate an analyte from interferents by electrochemical processes. Here, the analyte is a metal ion that can be deposited on an electrode immersed in the sample solution. The electrochemical setup consists of an anode and a cathode. When an electric current is applied to the setup, oxidation occurs at the anode. At the cathode, which consists of a large metal surface, metal ions undergo reduction and deposit onto the surface.
Electrodeposition can...

Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.

Electrogravimetric analysis measures the weight of an analyte deposited electrolytically onto a suitable working electrode. This method involves applying a potential to a pre-weighed electrode submerged in a solution, which results in the desired substance being deposited through reduction at the cathode or oxidation at the anode. The electrode's weight is recorded after deposition, and the difference in weight gives the analyte's weight in the solution.
To test the completeness of the...

A current produced due to the redox reactions of the analyte at the working and auxiliary electrodes is called a faradaic current. The reaction can be divided into two types. The current generated due to the reduction of the analyte is called cathodic current, and it carries a positive charge. In contrast, the current produced by analyte oxidation is known as an anodic current, and it has a negative charge. The applied potential at the working electrode determines the faradaic current flow, and...