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Molecular Size Effects in the Kinetics of the Electroreduction of Nitroalkanes on Mercury
Author(s) -
Kashti S.,
KirowaEisner E.,
Gileadi E.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
israel journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.908
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1869-5868
pISSN - 0021-2148
DOI - 10.1002/ijch.197400095
Subject(s) - chemistry , tafel equation , polarography , adsorption , dropping mercury electrode , mercury (programming language) , electrode , nitro , metal , inorganic chemistry , computational chemistry , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , programming language , alkyl , computer science
The reduction of nitroalkanes at the dropping mercury electrode in neutral solutions (pH 5.4–7.4) was studied. Careful measurements at the foot of the polarographic wave allow accurate determination of the Tafel slopes to within ± 1 mV, thus the effect of molecular size on the Tafel slope could be determined. The analysis of the results indicates that the adsorbed intermediate, which is a charged species, is situated about halfway between the metal surface and the outer Helmholtz plane. It is also shown that the intermediate is adsorbed with the functional nitro group lying flat on the surface. Only the carbon atoms in the position α and β to the nitrogen atom seem to occupy space on the surface. The importance of employing several members of a homologous series having a common functional group to evaluate the mechanism of electrode reactions is emphasized and the importance of employing the combined isotherm in such analysis is pointed out.