ABSTRACT
The chemical reactions involving either the usage or generation of electrical current (i.e., flow of electrons in different media) lead to the foundation of a special branch of chemistry, widely known as “electrochemistry.” Any electrochemical reaction is associated with the overall change in energy. The electrochemical potential in turn depends on the Fermi energy level (or equivalent) of the concerned material, with electron transfer taking place from the material having a higher Fermi level to the lower for equilibrating the same; eventually leading to a potential difference at the contact. In more specific terms, losses due to polarization occur when the current passes through the electrodes. These losses primarily include activation polarization; which drives the redox reaction at the electrode surface, and concentration polarization, which arises from the concentration differences of the reactants and products at the electrode surface and in the bulk as a result of (sluggish) mass transfer.
