Reference electrode

An electrode which has a constant and perfectly reproducible potential whatever the medium in which it is placed.

The standard reference electrode is the hydrogen electrode, which is based on the H3O+ / H2 couple.

As the hydrogen electrode is difficult to handle reproducibly, other reference electrodes are used. Most commonly these employ the calomel/mercury, mercurous sulphate/mercury, and silver chloride/silver couples.

Such electrodes are used together with an indicating or measuring electrode for potentiometric titrations.

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