Electrode potential Electrode potential Electrode potential, "E", in chemistry or electrochemistry, according to a IUPAC definition, is the electromotive force of a cell built of two electrodes: The SHE is defined to have a potential of 0 V, so the signed cell potential from the above setup is SHE is cathode and electrode is anode Electrode potential appears at the interface between an electrode and electrolyte due to the transfer of charged species across the interface, specific adsorption of ions at the interface, and specific adsorption/orientation of polar molecules, including those of the solvent. Electrode potential is the electric potential on an
Fluoride selective electrode where the fluoride transport number is 1. As transference of charge through the crystal is almost exclusively due to fluoride, the electrode is highly specific to fluoride. The only ion which significantly interferes is hydroxide (OH). Generally such "alkaline error" can be avoided by buffering the sample to a pH below 7. The cell diagram of a typical experimental arrangement is: where: Some commercially available reference electrodes have an internal junction which minimizes the liquid junction potential between the sample solution and the electrolyte in the reference electrode (KCl). The internal electrolyte is at fixed composition and the electrode response