Voltammetric and Chronopotentiometric Study of the Anodic Oxidation of Methanol, Formaldehyde, and Formic Acid

The anodic oxidation of methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid on platinized platinum electrodes was studied by the technique of voltammetry at linearly changing potential in 14 aqueous solutions ranging from to and over a concentration range of 0.01 to 0.1M. The p H dependences of the current‐voltage curves, peak currents, overpotentials, and kinetic parameters were investigated for each of the three compounds where possible. Mechanisms based on these results and the supporting chronopotentiometric and product studies are discussed.