2. Applications

2.1 Reaction prediction

Thermodynamic data alone are not enough to predict the predominant reaction at an electrode. You also need to know the current-potential curves. Thus, by taking advantage of the fact that kinetics can vary considerably when operating conditions are modified, we can reverse the order of appearance of reactions at the electrodes, compared with what thermodynamics predicts. All that's required, for example, is the selection of a suitable electrode material. Examples of considerable industrial importance are given below (§ 2.5