Electro Chemistry

Abstract

The expanding horizon of Electrochemistry, once considered to be part of Physical Chemistry has thrown up limitless possibilities and uses, thus deserving a unique treatment for itself in understanding the basic tenets. The most significant aspect of the rapidly growing segment of chemistry is that it has relevance to all branches of chemistry – analytical, inorganic, organic, biochemistry, not to speak of Physical Chemistry its, mother branch. Starting with the basic mobile energy devices such as batteries and fuel cells, this branch of chemistry now has found favour with synthetic organic and inorganic chemists by virtue of its capability of providing electrosynthetic procedures with neat reaction conditions and work up. The wide range of applicability of electroplating and electrodeposition have made it possible to experiment and innovate with technological devices. Thus the subject attracts practicing chemists, biologists and technologists in equal measure. The research student or academician is simply enthralled by the interface of this branch of Chemistry with many other disciplines like thermodynamics, surface chemistry, and solution chemistry and with electricity as the name implies. What follows is an attempt to delineate the fundamental principles as well as analytical and industrial applications of this interesting branch of chemistry. The aim is to help the undergraduate and postgraduate students of Indian universities familiarize them selves of the broad spectrum of this important area. With this objective in mind the authors have adopted a simple narration technique as well as resorted to suitable problems for easy comprehension.