Reduction of dicarbonyl compounds on a mercury electrode. II. Reduction mechanism of acetylbenzoyl

Abstract

A study on the electrochemical reduction of acetylbenzoyl on a mercury electrode has been carried out in the pH range 0–9 in buffered aqueous solutions. The effect of pH, drop time, temperature, and acetylbenzoyl concentration on polarographic and kinetic parameters has been studied. The occurrence of adsorption phenomena is inferred from the recordings of C–E curves. Tafel slopes and reaction orders have been obtained at potentials corresponding to the foot of the wave. On the basis of these experimental data, a reaction mechanism is proposed for the zone of potentials where Tafel's law is satisfied.