~ Physical Chemistry Resources ~
TOPICS.
Calomel Electrode
Calomel Electrode.
The calomel electrode consists or an outer glass tube fitted with a frit at the
bottom to permit electrical contact with the outside solution. In side there is
another tube, the bottom of which is packed with glass wool to allow further electrical
connection between the contents of the inner tube and the contents of the outer
tube. The inner tube is packed with a paste of mercury and mercurous
chloride dispersed in a saturated solution of potassium chloride. The electrode potential will depend
on the concentration of the potassium chloride and, thus, the electrode
potential must be reported together with the potassium chloride concentration.
For the saturated calomel electrode the common reference voltage is +0.244 V. The calomel electrode operating temperature
is restricted to below 80oC due to the mercurous chloride
disproportioning into mercury and mercuric chloride at higher
temperatures.