Electrochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies chemical reactions which take place in a solution at the interface of an electron conductor and an ionic conductor (the electrolyte). These reactions involve electron transfer between the electrode and the electrolyte or species in solution. If a chemical reaction is driven by an externally applied voltage, as in electrolysis, or if a voltage is created by a chemical reaction as in a battery, it is an electrochemical reaction. In contrast, chemical reactions where electrons are transferred between molecules are called oxidation/reduction (redox) reactions. In general, electrochemistry deals with situations where oxidation and reduction reactions are separated in space or time, connected by an external electric circuit. Understanding of electrical matters began in the sixteenth century. During this century the English scientist William Gilbert spent 17 years experimenting with magnetism and, to a lesser extent, electricity. This book has been written for the students of under graduate and post-graduate level of the various universities in India. A special feature of the book is that the text has been illustrated with a large number of line diagrams and the data presented in the form of numerous tables for reference and comparison.
