Title: applied potential
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - applied potential
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.A00424
Status: current

Definition
The difference of potential measured between identical metallic leads to two electrodes of a cell. The applied potential is divided into two electrode potentials, each of which is the difference of potential existing between the bulk of the solution and the interior of the conducting material of the electrode, an \(i\ R\) or ohmic potential drop through the solution, and another ohmic potential drop through each electrode. In the electroanalytical literature this quantity has often been denoted by the term voltage, whose continued use is not recommended.

Related Terms
- electrode potentials: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/E01956
- voltage: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/V06635

Source
- PAC, 1985, 57, 1491. 'Recommended terms, symbols, and definitions for electroanalytical chemistry (Recommendations 1985)' on page 1502 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac198557101491)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/A00424/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/A00424/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/A00424/xml

Citation: Citation: 'applied potential' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.A00424
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Accessed: 2026-07-25T16:05:49+00:00