Cathodic reactions of natural galena in perchloric acid

The electrochemical behaviour of natural galena electrodes in 1 M perchloric acid was studied using linear sweep voltammetry. In the potential domain of + 0.10 to − 1.25 V vs sce, no fewer than 11 electrochemical reactions were identified, involving species such as Pb2+, Pb, PbS, H2S, S0, S2−2 and S2−. The geological implications of the electrochemical behaviour of natural galena are briefly discussed.