Question

In electrochemistry why does reference electrode have to have characteristics of ideally non-polarizable electrode???

Answer 1

If electrode gets polarized , then accumulation of gases takes place at interface of electrolyte and electrode , as a result reduction potential decreases , hence reaction becomes slow and eventually halts.

Sometimes polarization of concentration takes place into electrolyte , so depletion of reagents across boundary layer hamper process of electrolysis .

Both mentioned effect , isolate electrode from electrolyte , impending reaction and charge transfer between electrode and electrolyte , so electric current is increasingly converted into heat rather than desired electrochemical work.

In order to avoid such consequences on electrochemical reaction , electrode should be non polarizable .