FACTORS DETERMINING THE RATE OF ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF ORGANIC SURFACTANTS.

An equation is proposed for describing the dependence of the rate of an electrochemical process on the surface coverage of the electrode by adsorbed organic inhibitor molecules. The equation takes into account the change in the rate constant of the electrode reaction in the presence of organic additives as a result of a decrease in dielectric constant in the surface layer and as a result of deformation of the adsorption layer. Allowance is also made for a change in the activity coefficient of the transition-state complex when the surfactant is adsorbed and a change in the psi //1 potential. It is shown that the equation obtained gives a quantitative description of the effect of organic inhibitors on the kinetics of the electrochemical reduction of various cations and anions.