Standard hydrogen electrode

In electrochemistry, the standard hydrogen electrode (abbreviated SHE), is a redox electrode which forms the basis of the thermodynamic scale of oxidation-reduction potentials. Its absolute electrode potential is estimated to be 4.44 ± 0.02 V[1] at 25 °C, but to form a basis for comparison with all other electrochemical reactions, hydrogen's standard electrode potential (E°) is declared to be zero volts at any temperature.[2] Potentials of all other electrodes are compared with that of the standard hydrogen electrode at the same temperature.

  1. ^ Sergio Trasatti, "The Absolute Electrode Potential: an Explanatory Note (Recommendations 1986)", International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Pure & AppL Chem., Vol. 58, No. 7, pp. 955–66, 1986. http://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/1986/pdf/5807x0955.pdf (pdf)
  2. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "standard hydrogen electrode". doi:10.1351/goldbook.S05917