Kinetics and Mechanism of Electroreduction of Ammonia and Hydroxyammonia Complexes of Zinc(II) on a Dropping Mercury Electrode

It is found that the equilibrium potential of the Zn(Hg)/Zn(II) system depends on the concentration of ammonia molecules and solution pH. The dependence conforms to the literature data on the stability constants for ammonia and hydroxyammonia complexes of zinc. Their reduction on a dropping mercury electrode in solutions of pH 9.2–12 and [NH3] = 0.05–2 M yields one irreversible cathodic wave with a diffusion limiting current. In dilute supporting electrolytes, the plateau of the latter is preceded by a maximum due to accumulation of insoluble reduction products on the surface of the mercury drop. The pH and [NH3] dependences of the half-wave potential of waves that are undistorted by a maximum are analyzed with allowance made for a change in the composition of zinc(II) complexes in the bulk solution. According to the analysis, the slow two-electron electrochemical stage involves complexes Zn(NH3)22+ that form from complexes present in solution in preceding reversible chemical reactions. The effect the supporting-electrolyte concentration has on the electroreduction rate of zinc(II) complexes and the mechanism of the electrochemical stage is discussed.