CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

When exactly are platinum electrodes used?
I assumed that it was whenever there wasn't a solid metal involved in the reaction; however there are some questions in the textbook where a platinum electrode is used even when a solid metal is present.

platinum electrodes are used when there are no metal solids or only one metal solid. a platinum electrode is not required when BOTH the anode and cathode reactions contain solid metals

Since Platinum is an inert metallic compound, it doesn't affect the cell reaction. Moreover, Platinum is a good electric conductor, so I guess it's often used in this redox reactions.

Are there any cases where a platinum electrode cannot be used and a different one has to be used? If so, do we need to know that for the purposes of this class?

I think Professor Lavelle said that Graphite electrodes are used as well because they do not affect the reaction, but Platinum electrodes are the most common (even though they might be extremely expensive, go figure).