The current role of polarography in the light of the coming 90th anniversary of its discovery (a reflection)

Abstract

Since 1922, when Professor Jaroslav Heyrovský had carried out his pioneering experiment with a dropping mercury electrode, polarography showed remarkable ability to adjust to ever increasing demands on the sensitivity and selectivity and, up to now, mercury electrodes are among the best sensors for electroanalytical measurements. The aim of this contribution is to remind some facts maybe, not well-known to everyone about the discovery of polarography, discuss the position of polarography in scientific research today, and outline also some future prospects of this concededly fascinating electrochemical technique.