AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO ELECTROCHEMISTRY

The concepts used conventionally in electrochemistry, single-ion chemical potential and electrostatic potential difference, are not obtainable from measurements in an inhomogeneous system. The use of nonoperational and mutually dependent forces in flux equations has impeded our understanding of electrochemical processes, and has led to wrong conclusions. The equation for entropy production is derived using only operationally defined quantities, chemical potentials of neutral components and the electric potential measured with reversible electrodes. The electric potential enters calculations as external electric work in the first law of thermodynamics. From entropy production, flux equations are obtained where the forces are operationally defined, measurable quantities. Three different problems from electrochemistry are discussed, the liquid junction potential, the Donnan potential, and energy coversion in mitochondria. The conventional method of calculations and the operational method are compared. The operational method permits more detailed calculations of emf, and an understanding of the process from a different approach.