What factors can affect the potential of a reference electrode?
The potential of a reference electrode varies with temperature (typically 0.5 – 1.0 mV/oC). Therefore, precise measurement of redox potentials requires the use of a constant temperature bath for the cell. The potentials of the silver/silver chloride and calomel reference electrode are also affected by the concentration of chloride in the electrode solution, which must therefore be maintained at a constant value by proper storage.
