Reference Electrode
Last Updated: 2/28/19 by Support
1Reference Electrode
The reference electrode is used as a stable source against which the potential
Potential
of other electrodes
Electrode
are measured in an electrochemical system.
Electrochemical System
The reference electrode typically has a stable and well-known thermodynamic potential. The high stability of the reference electrode is usually achieved by employing a redox
Redox
system with constant (buffered or saturated) concentrations of the ions or molecules involved in the redox half-reaction. When used as part of a three-electrode system,
Three-Electrode System
current
Current
does not pass through the reference electrode.