Integration of Single‐Sweep Oscillopolarograms I . Determination of Reactant Adsorption and Oxide Film Reduction at Platinum Electrodes

Integration of the equation for the current‐time relationship when a linear potential sweep is applied to an electrode has led to an equation for the number of coulombs passed, , where is a constant dependent on the potential interval over which the integration is carried out, but independent of sweep rate, C the concentration of the species undergoing reaction, A the electrode area, and ν the time rate of change of the linear potential sweep. A procedure to distinguish between coulombs due to diffusing and nondiffusing reactants is given. The derived relationships are verified experimentally. Separation of the coulombs due to the reduction of ferric iron and platinum oxide under conditions where both reactions take place concomitantly is described. In the iodide‐iodine‐triiodide system, it is concluded that iodine, rather than triiodide, is the adsorbed species.