Polarographic Methods of Analysis

The polarographic method invented by J. Heyrovsk over 40 years ago has been associated with many successful achievements in many branches of physical and analytical chemistry, particularly in electrochemistry. Following the construction of the polarograph (with the excellent properties of Kuera's dropping mercury electrode incorporated) by Heyrovsk and Shikata, recording the current—voltage curves has become much simplified contributing thereby to the rapid development of the polarographic method. To date over 20 000 papers have been published in this discipline and further applications of the method continue to be investigated. The major practical application of polarographic technique is in analytical chemistry since it makes possible, in a simplified way, the detection and estimation of elements and compounds when present in very small concentrations.