Question

On what factors does selective discharge of ions depend?

Answer 1

The selective discharge of ions depends on three main factors:

• Relative position of the ion in the electrochemical series: The ion which is lower in the electrochemical series is generally discharged preferentially.
• Concentration of ions: An ion present in higher concentration has a greater tendency to be discharged, particularly when the competing ions are close in the electrochemical series.
• Nature of the electrode: The nature of the electrode, whether inert or active, can affect the discharge of ions.