Abstract:
Polarographic chemical analysis, although invented
only twenty-five years ago, has already become a standard
method ror the research worker and industrial analyst alike.
The variety or topics in pure, bio- and commercial chemistry
which may be investigated easily with the polarograph, as
well as its application to microchenistry, has found it a
place in laboratories throughout the world. The invention
offthe method, and much or the pioneer development are due
to Jaroslav Heyrovsky and his colleagues at Charles
University, Prague, (Phil. Mag., 1923, 45, 303; Trans.
Faraday Soc., 1923, 19, 692 et seq.)
Kucera, also of Charles University, noticed peculiar
inflections in the electrocapillary curve of mercury under
certain conditions, and devised the "dropping mercury
electrode", now commonly used; to investigate these, (Ann.
Physik., 1903,11, 529). Further work on this subject by
Heyrovsky led ultimately to the development of polarography,
(Ohemo Listy, 1922, 12, 256.)
