ANODIC OXIDATION OF FORMATE ION

A study of the electrolysis of sodium formate in neutral solutions has been made, with particular reference to reactions at the anode. Current-anode potential curves are quite smooth and continuous No abrupt changes or breaks are observed right up to high current densities. In M-sodium formate solutions (a) carbon dioxide is the sole product up to a current density of 12.50 milliamperes per sq. cm., (b) between current densities 12.5 and 50 milliamps. small percentages of oxygen are also formed ; (c) at and above a current density of 5o milliamps. small quantities of carbon monoxide and hydrogen are also among the products. The formation of the different anode products has been explained on the basis of the formation of an unstable dimer of the formate radical and its subsequent catalytic decomposition on the platinum surface at different centres