Glow-Discharge Electrolysis in Aqueous Solutions

An investigation has been carried out of the reactions occurring when an electric discharge is passed from a positive electrode to the surface of an aqueous electrolyte containing oxidizable substrates such as ferrous, azide, ferrocyanide, and cerous ions. Electrolysis is accompanied by oxidation arising from the breakup of water molecules due to the bombardment of the solution by gaseous ions, and the chemical phenomena are analogous to the effects produced by ionizing radiations. An attempt has been made to develop a general mechanism of the process which will account quantitatively for the oxidation yields and their dependence on experimental conditions.