Solvent Effects on the Kinetics of Electroreduction of Cu(I) at Mercury
Abstract
The solvent plays an important role in amalgam formation reactions when it forms the primary solvation sheath of the reactant. In the present paper we report a study of the role of the solvent in the kinetics of reduction of copper (I) in nitrile solvents where the monovalent ion is stable. The standard rate constants for reduction of Cu (I) in acetonitrile (AN) and benzonitrile (BN) are virtually identical (0.13 and ).16 cm/s, respectively) at mercury with close to unity for the reduction process in both solvents in spite of the fact that the double layer structure is very different. Kinetic parameters including heats of activation in these solvents and other nitriles will be presented and discussed with respect to intrinsic asymmetry of the reaction barrier.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA209423
Entities
People
- C. A. Foss Jr.
- William Ronald Fawcett
Organizations
- University of California, Davis