Electrochemical study of gold dissolution in cyanide solution

Cyclic voltammetric and potential step chronoamperometric techniques were u sed to study gold dissolution in cyanide solution. Three distinct anodic pe aks and one cathodic peak appear on the voltammogram between -0.50 and 0.80 V vs. SCE. The corresponding reactions were proposed to explain the peaks and the passivations. The proposed reactions were in agreement with the eff ect of pH and cyanide on the magnitude of the peak currents. Cyclic voltamm etric tests, with various vertex potentials, were also conducted to examine the proposed reactions. Steady-state currents at various potentials were o btained by potential step chronoamperometric technique and were compared wi th transient currents obtained by the cyclic voltammetric technique.