Electrochemical theory and terminology

Electrical Properties

There are a large number of electrical properties which have been exploited in electroanalytical measurements. The three most important of those from the analytical viewpoint are “potential”, “current” and “charge”. The table (1) below provides details of these properties along with “resistance” the other common, but non-specific electrical property of a solution.

Table 1 – Analytically useful electrical properties

Electrochemical Cells – What electroanalytical chemists use

Electrochemical books define two types of electrochemical cell: a galvanic (or voltaic cell) and an electrolytic cell. However for electroanalytical purposes an electrochemical cell can be more broadly defined as the combination of a minimum of two electrodes immersed in a solution containing the analyte, with an external connection between the electrodes to complete the electrical circuit. Such a basic cell is illustrated in figure (1) below.

Figure 1 – Basic electrochemical cell