DROPPING-MERCURY ELECTRODE

"A working electrode arrangement for electroanalytical techniques, such as polarography. Mercury is flowing continuously through a capillary tubing forming a small droplet (typical diameter about 0.1 cm) exposed to the solution. The old drop falls off and a new drop forms typically every few (3-6) seconds. The advantage of this self-renewing electrode is that the effect of impurities in the solution is minimized. Typically a new drop will form before impurities have a chance to adsorb on the surface of the old drop to such an extent as to influence the charge-transfer reaction. Abbreviated as ""dme."" "