Electrochemistry is a branch of physical chemistry that studies the relationship between potential differences and identifiable chemical changes. Charge transfer can occur homogeneously in a solution between different chemicals or heterogeneously on electrode surfaces. To ensure electrical neutrality, two or more charge-transfer half-reactions occur simultaneously in opposite directions, namely oxidation with electron loss or increased oxidation state and reduction with electron gain or decreased oxidation state. At the electrode surface, oxidation and reduction half-reactions are separated in space, typically occurring when different electrodes are immersed in solution, in a single cell or in a separate cell chamber. The electrodes are linked by conduction paths in solution (via ion transport) and externally (via wires, etc.) so that the charge can be transported and the circuit is completed.
Electrochemical techniques are a powerful way to measure analytes. Analytes are oxidized or reduced at a specific potential, and the current is proportional to the concentration. In bioanalysis, the measurement of biomolecules is an incredible challenge since dynamic changes in small concentrations of chemicals occur in specific and complex environments. Electrochemical techniques have high levels of sensitivity, selectivity, temporal resolution, and spatial resolution to meet the challenge. A range of different sensing platforms are used to perform real-time measurements at minimal locations. Electrochemistry is widely used in the measurement of various analytes such as proteins, nucleic acids, metabolites, metals, etc., for personal and public health, clinical analysis, food and water quality, and environmental monitoring.
With the enhancement of materials and processes, electrochemical principles have facilitated advancements and created solutions in many fields. Electrochemistry has been applied in the fields of batteries in electronic devices, the purification of metals, environmental monitoring, bioanalysis, and the development of diagnostic tools. Amerigo Scientific offers a wide range of electrochemistry standards and reagents for the measurement of pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), redox (ORP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ion selective electrodes (ISEs), and turbidity.
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