444 ISOTOPIC TRACERS AND NUCLEAR RADIATIONS [Chap. 17 



course, if the hydrogen overvoltage of the latter metal is lower than the 

 voltage necessary for its plating, then the reduction rate may be very slow 

 and may not occur quantitatively within a finite time. 



Oxygen overvoltages and the formation or lack of formation of oxygen gas 

 and hydrogen ions should be considered in exactly the same relation, but 

 with respect to the anode. However, since most of the electrolysis work 

 with radioactive materials will be concerned with cathodic film formation, 

 anodes with low oxygen overvoltages should be employed; this condition is 

 adequately met in platinum. 



