Reference electrode allows you to measure the potential of the working electrode with out passing current through it while counter (auxiliary) electrode allows you to pass current. If oxidation occurs at the working electrode, reduction using the same magnitude of current is sustained at the counter electrode and hence there is no current flow between working and reference electrode(high input impedance) enabling us to follow changes in working electrode potential accurately. This is not possible in a two electrode system although we can get crude values by using certain types of electrodes which can act simultaneously as working and reference electrode.

Reference electrode allows you to measure the potential of the working electrode with out passing current through it while counter (auxiliary) electrode allows you to pass current. If oxidation occurs at the working electrode, reduction using the same magnitude of current is sustained at the counter electrode and hence there is no current flow between working and reference electrode(high input impedance) enabling us to follow changes in working electrode potential accurately. This is not possible in a two electrode system although we can get crude values by using certain types of electrodes which can act simultaneously as working and reference electrode.

Thanx sir.........:)

Sir can you please explain in detail that what are the chemical reaction occuring at reference electrode..

If you tell what type of reference electrode you use, then it is very easy to explain l the electrochemical reaction occurring at the reference although this may be difficult for the case of quasi-reference electrodes. For example, if you are using a silver/silver chloride or saturated calomel electrode(SCE) this is very easy. Please refer "Reference Electrodes, theory and Practice" by Ives and Janez

Sir, can you please comment, what is the role of area of counter electrode on electrodeposition? How one can choose the area of counter electrode. I know that the counter electrode should be larger than WE, but if it is too large, what can be the drawback, particularly when the aim is to prepare microtubes of polyaniline using polycarbonate template membranes?

go through this article

http://www.chem.umn.edu/groups/buhlmann/TrAC%20review.pdf

I am using Three electrodes system, having 1 reference electrode and 2 working electrodes. 

What should be the properties of the Reference Electrodes? 

I will be happy to have an answer.

The counter electrode (also known as auxiliary electrode), is an electrode which is used to close the current circuit in the electrochemical cell. It is usually made of an inert material (e.g. Pt, Au, graphite, glassy carbon) and usually it does not participate in the electrochemical reaction. Because the current is flowing between the WE and the CE, the total surface area of the CE (source/sink of electrons) must be higher than the area of the WE so that it will not be a limiting factor in the kinetics of the electrochemical process under investigation.

Any one is having this book or PDF file please share Reference Electrodes, theory and Practice" by Ives and Janez please share it me.

Can anyone please explain for what purpose reference electrode is used?

what is the difference between reference and working electrode

Thank you very much all!

Dear REkha,

welcome,

Hope you are well!

I answered this question because it is a basic question in electrochemistry.

The electrode position device is normally built fro two electrodes to apply voltage on the device and pass current in it for transferring the metal ions to the cathode surface. So, the minimum required number of electrodes is two to electrically access the device. So, the working electrode is the cathode where the metal is deposited, the counter electrode is required to complete the electric circuit.

The reference electrode is a potential sensing probe inserted in the electrolyte between the two electrodes. It does not carry any current it only sense the potential of the point in the electrolyte where it is inserted.

So it is used used to measure every electrode potential. In this way one can analyse the performance of electrodes and see how far the electrodes performs as expected or not.

Best wishes

Hi everyone,

I am working on slurry electrodes and I have a question about the position of the electrodes. I have a channel and I want to use it to measure the conductivity of the electrode but there is a problem, I don't know how to place the electrodes, in both sides of the channel or put them in the same of the channel. I read the theory behind EIS measurement, and I found that the working electrode is the cathode, the counter electrode is required to complete the electric circuit. the distance between counter and working is the base of conductivity calculation. If I put them on both sides, the fluid flow is parallel to the electrodes but if I put them in the same side the fluid flow is perpendicular to the electrodes, does the type of electrodes configuration have any effects on the measured conductivity or not?

Thank you very much

Alireza!

would you please present your idea in a drawing.

In addition describe what do you want to make exactly.

I can help you to measure the conductivity of any material.

Best wishes