ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF NITRITE AND OXIDE ON PLATINUM SURFACES IN FUSED POTASSIUM NITRATE-SODIUM NITRATE EUTECTIC MELTS AT 250 DEGREES C

Experimental work is described concerning the electrochemical behavior of nitrite and oxide ion in sodium nitrate-potassium nitrate eutectic melts at 250 °C. Data are presented to support the postulate that a reversible couple is formed between nitrite and NO2 gas in the melt, evidence of which can be observed by current-voltage and chronopotentiometric techniques. In the case of oxide, it is suggested that oxidation of the ion proceeds via a one-electron process, and that the product, peroxide, is decomposed in a post chemical step. Also discussed is the behavior of oxalate in the melt, which is shown to remain essentially undissociated until catalytically decomposed to yield oxide. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.