SOLVENT EFFECTS IN THE ELECTROREDUCTION OF ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETATOCHROMIUM(III) AT A MERCURY-ELECTRODE

The kinetics of the one-electron reduction of ethylenediaminetetraacet atochromium(III) have been studied by convolution potential sweep volt ammetry in different solvents at a mercury electrode. The observed ele ctron transfer rate constants and transfer coefficients have been corr ected for double-layer effects using experimental double-layer data. T he dependence of the diffusion coefficients, standard potentials, and corrected electron transfer rates on solvent properties has been inter preted within the context of contemporary theory. It has been shown th at the standard potential is a linear function of the solvent acceptor number. The variation of the logarithm of the corrected standard rate constants is correlated to the acceptor number of the solvent and the solvent longitudinal relaxation time. No evidence was found for incor poration of the solvent as a ligand for the reactant.