discuss Merits and demerits of using hydrogen electrode as reference electrode

For 2 mark

1 answer

Merits:
1. Hydrogen electrode is considered as a universal reference electrode because it has a standard potential of 0.00 V, making it ideal for comparing the electrode potentials of other electrodes.
2. It can be easily prepared in the laboratory and maintained under controlled conditions, making it a reliable reference electrode.
3. It has a wide range of applicability and can be used in various electrochemical studies and measurements.

Demerits:
1. Hydrogen electrode requires a constant supply of hydrogen gas and a platinum electrode, which can be expensive and not practical for all laboratory settings.
2. It is sensitive to impurities in the hydrogen gas or the electrolyte solution, which can affect its accuracy as a reference electrode.
3. Hydrogen electrode can be time-consuming to set up and calibrate, especially for beginners in electrochemistry.
4. It is not suitable for high-temperature or high-pressure conditions, limiting its applicability in certain experiments.