Kinetics and Mechanism of Electroreduction of Ammonia Complexes of Cobalt(II) on a Dropping Mercury Electrode

Abstract

Effects of concentrations of ammonia (0.3–5.8 M) and supporting electrolytes (NaF, NaClO₄; 0.1–0.5 M) on the kinetics of electroreduction of ammonia complexes of cobalt(II) at a dropping mercury electrode are studied. Most experiments are performed with low concentrations of cobalt(II) complexes (1 × 10^–5 to 2 × 10^–5 M) in the absence of a polarographic maximum. The dependence of the half-wave potential of the reversible cathodic wave pertaining to the reduction of ammonia complexes of cobalt(II) on the concentration of ammonia molecules is obtained. It is found from the dependence that, at ammonia concentrations of 0.5–2.6 M, the slow electrochemical stage involves predominantly complexes Co(NH₃)₂ ²⁺. At higher ammonia concentrations, the stage involves complexes Co(NH₃) _k ²⁺ (k > 2), which form in preceding chemical stages from complexes Co(NH₃) _i ²⁺ (i = 3–6) that are predominant in solution. Values of the diffusion coefficients for complexes Co(NH₃) _i ²⁺, apparent transfer coefficients, and rate constant of the process of electroreduction of ammonia complexes of cobalt(II) are determined. The reasons for the complicating effect the insoluble products of reduction of cobalt(II) complexes have on the shape of polarographic waves are discussed.