AbstractsChemistry

Investigation of the effect of an electrical field on a chemical reaction involves the study of a system acting under the influence of an external perturbing force. It is of interest, therefore, to consider, in brief outline, the nature of this force, and the energy associated with it. Treatises on this subject are available in standard references (1, 2). The intensity of an electrical field is a measure of the force exerted on a unit charge when at rest in the field. The field intensity at any distance from a point charge is given by Coulomb's Law, and in practical units is measured in volts per cm. The difference in potential between two points in a field is given by the work necessary to bring a unit positive charge from one point to the other.[...]