On the Mechanism of Electrooxidation of Hydrazine on Platinum Electrodes in Acidic Solutions

Abstract

A systematic study of the electrooxidation mechanism of hydrazine on Pt electrodes in 0.5 M H2SO4 solutions has been made. The experimental rate equation found is I = 4FAkC0.35hydC-0.58H3O+exp(2FE/3RT) This can be theoretically explained by a five step mechanism. The log I vs. log Chyd linear plot that results in the determination of the reaction order respect to hydrazine concentration can be used as a working curve for quantitative analytical determination of hydrazine concentrations. A mechanistic explanation has been found for the unusual dependence of the Tafel slope with the pH value.