Inert Electrodes [ENDORSED]

[Nina Gautam 1K]

What are all the scenarios in which an inert electrode is necessary? Also, can it always be Pt(s) or are there situations where it should be a different metal?

[Kailey Brodeur 1J]

Inert means it is not reactive, so an inert electrode does not actually participate in the reaction. Inert electrodes are needed to conduct electrons when there is no metal involved in the redox reaction. If a solid metal is involved, then the inert electrode is not needed. I am not sure how to choose, or if it even matters, what inert electrode you use, but Pt and C(gr) are common ones.

[Remi Lathrop 1G]

Inert electrodes are necessary when you are dealing with a reaction taking place between aqueous solutions, liquids, or gasses- essentially any reaction where you have no solid present. When there is no solid present in the reaction there is nothing available to transfer electrons, so you need to add an inert electrode. Platinum works in any solution and is relatively common simply because it is a fairly cheap metal.

[Manvir2K]

Another commonly used inert conductor is graphite.