262 



We raa}^ of course, also start from the Pel, and say that only 

 in the PJ-electrode to wliicli electrons are added, and in which 

 hydrogen ions dissolve, hydrogen is formed in a state of formation, and 

 that afterwards gaseous hydrogen occurs in a state of formation, but this 

 only implies a difference so far as the first moments are concerned, 

 for when once electrolytic generation of hydrogen has set in, this 



Fig. 2. 

 will occur in a state of formation at the same time in the gas 

 phase and in tiie metal phase. 



It should be pointed out here that when we have a homogeneous 

 phase, as the solid solution of hydrogen in palladium, the electrical 

 potential of these two components with respect to the coexisting 

 electrolyte must be the same. This applies also to the solid solutions 

 lying on the line be, but in the solid solution lying on this line 

 there is equilibrium between hydrogen molecules, hydrogen ions, 

 and electrons, whereas this is not the case in the P(/-boundary layer 

 which coexists with hydrogen in a state of formation. 



This is, therefore, the reason that the P(/-phase e' coexisting with 

 the hydrogen phase d', does not lie on the prolongation of the line 6e. 



The hydrogen dissolved in the P(/-phase e' is in the state of 

 formation, and consequently this phase is richer in hydrogen ions 

 and electrons than when the hydrogen is in inner equilibrium. The 



