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How to Clean Chromium From an AG-Rod Electrode

An electrode is an electrical conductor that allows the electric current to pass through it via a series of oxidation and reduction reactions. The Ag-rod electrode, or the silver chloride electrode, is commonly used as a reference electrode in pH meters, electroplating systems and corrosion control systems. They are cheap and easily prepared by coating a silver metal rod with solid silver chloride and immersing it in an aqueous chloride salt solution within glass tubing. The chloride and oxide salts of various metals such as chromium are deposited on the silver electrodes during the electroplating process.

Things You'll Need

Silver electrode
0.1 molar hydrochloric acid solution
Soft brush
Cotton bud
Distilled water
Mild soap solution

Instructions

- 1
  Rinse the electrodes using warm tap water immediately after use to remove the gel. You may use mild soap or a soft brush to clean the electrode if water alone is ineffective.
- 2
  Moisten a cotton bud with distilled water and insert it into the well of the electrode. Increase or decrease the diameter of the cotton bud such that it can reach the base of the electrode well.
- 3
  Soak the electrode in 0.1 molar hydrochloric acid solution for 15 to 30 minutes. This will strip the chromium salts on the silver electrode, which appear in form of black or brown deposits on the electrode. The chromium salts move into the filling solution of the electrode.
- 4
  Remove the old filling solution, flush the electrode with the new filling solution and refill it with fresh chloride salt solution.

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