A step to a uniform definition and interpretation of the suspension effect

Experimental results for potentials obtained from measurements in suspension galvanic cells, both conventional and of some new configurations, analysed on the basis of their detailed schemes, support the new SE concept advanced in recent years. The SE is found to be the sum of two effects, one due to the interaction of particles with the solid indicator electrode, resulting in an irreversible mixed potential, and the other due to the outflow of the solution from the salt bridge tip of the reference electrode into the suspension, causing an ‘anomalous liquid junction potential’. No thermodynamically founded pIon value can be obtained from potential measurements of suspension galvanic cells. Instead of the current SE definitions, that seem unsuitable, an operational definition of SE is proposed, which is suggested to be considered as a starting point for the new formulation of the definition and the interpretation of the SE.