Electrochemical Potentials of High Purity Metals in Sea Water

The electrochemical potentials of high purity metals were determined in quiescent sea water. The data are presented as histograms and as potential-time graphs. The electrochemical potential of many of the metals never reached a steady state value, so it is impractical to assign a specific potential value to these metals. A galvanic series is included based on a subjective ranking of the histograms. Two of the metals, bismuth and tin, had relatively stable potentials in sea water, but at present they do not appear to offer any advantage over the Ag/AgCI reference electrode. The comparatively negative potential of the high purity aluminum may be of interest because of the possibility that a high potential galvanic anode with the weight advantage of aluminum could be developed.