Anion Bridging and Anion Electrocatalysis on Mercury

Abstract

The rate‐enhancing effect of some specifically adsorbed anions on the kinetics of several electrode reactions greatly exceeds that predicted by the Frumkin correction. The literature on this effect is critically reviewed, including Heyrovsky's 1947 hypothesis of ligand bridging and the pioneering work of Aikens and Ross on the oxidation of Cr(II). Two current theoretical interpretations are discussed and several related comments are made regarding ionic adsorption.