Question

All reference electrodes must conform to certain requirements. List the requirements and explain their significance.

(a) The reference electrode should have a stable and well-defined potential.

(b) The reference electrode should have a low impedance.

(c) The reference electrode should have good selectivity for the ions involved.

(d) All of the above.

Answer 1

Reference electrodes must meet specific requirements to ensure accurate measurement of the potential of the indicator electrode. These requirements include maintaining a potential unaffected by the solution being analyzed and being physically isolated from the solution.

Step-by-step explanation:

All reference electrodes must conform to certain requirements in order to ensure accurate measurement of the potential of the indicator electrode. The requirements for reference electrodes are as follows:

1. The potential of the reference electrode should not be affected by the properties of the solution being analyzed. This is important because any change in the potential of the reference electrode could lead to inaccurate measurements of the concentration of the substance being analyzed.
2. The reference electrode should be physically isolated from the solution being analyzed. This is necessary to prevent any interference or contamination from the solution, which could affect the potential of the reference electrode.

By conforming to these requirements, reference electrodes provide a stable and constant potential that can be used as a reference point for measuring the potential of the indicator electrode. This ensures accurate measurement of concentrations in a galvanic cell.