An application of the hammett equation to the cathodic reduction of aromatic acids

✍ Scribed by M.D. Birkett; A.T. Kuhn

• Book ID: 103065669
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 493 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0013-4686
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-4686(76)85076-1

✦ Synopsis

Nine aromatic acids were cathodically reduced in aqueous acid medium. Lead was the main cathode metal employed, though experiments on Cu, Fe, Cd, Sn and Cu/Hg as well as PbSn alloys are also reported. At all potentials, hydrogen evolution was the dominant electrode reaction. The rate of reduction of the organic species was measured by periodic sampling of the electrolyte and chemical analysis. The corresponding alcohol was the only determinable product. The reaction rates so derived were plotted according to the Hammett equation. Straight line plots were obtained and the p value agreed with non-electrochemical studies in the literature. From this, the Tafel slopes and electrochemical reaction orders. a mechanism. largely in agreement with earlier hypotheses, is put forward.