TESTS INDICATE THE AG/AG CL ELECTRODE IS IDEAL REFERENCE CELL IN SEAWATER

The silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrode has been widely used as a practical reference electrode in sea water for the past 20 years. However, private inquiries to the authors indicate a continuing distrust of the reliability of this electrode among corrosion engineers. These questions seem to be mainly concerned with the position in the electromotive series of the electrode, with the reliability of the electrode, and with the effect of dilution on the accuracy of measurements made with Ag/AgCl electrodes in brackish water. In addition to these reservations as to the reliability of Ag/AgCl electrodes, there has been the question of their theoretical behavior in sea water. Thus, a study was undertaken to determine whether the potential of of the electrode was determined solely by the chloride in the sea water and whether the electrode acted as a reversible half cell in sea water; that is, whether the potential of the electrode could be calculated from the activity coefficients of the chloride ion concentration in sea water and in diluted sea water. This phase of the study also provided an opportunity to tie in the potential of the Ag/AgCl electrode with the extensive data based on the chemical and physical properties of sea water developed by oceanographers.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Association of Corrosion Engineers

  2400 West Loop South
  Houston, TX  United States  77027
• Authors:
  • Peterson, V H
  • Groover, R E
• Publication Date: 1972-5

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 19-22
• Serial:
  • Materials Protection and Performance
  • Volume: 11N5
  • Publisher: National Association of Corrosion Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrosion; Corrosion protection; Electric potential; Electrochemical processes; Electrodes
• Old TRIS Terms: Electrode potentials
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00034905
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 27 1973 12:00AM