It is challenging to find a universal definition of electrochemistry. Each source brings its own nuances and particular perspectives, reflecting the complexity and breadth of this discipline. While definitions may share common elements, they are not all exactly the same, as they depend on the context in which they are presented and the purpose of each author.
Therefore, I have decided to collect various definitions and excerpts from books, articles, and websites that aim to clarify the concept of Electrochemistry.
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Definitions:
“Electrochemistry is the branch of physical chemistry concerned with the relationship between electrical potential difference and identifiable chemical change. These reactions involve electrons moving via an electronically conducting phase (typically an external electrical circuit, but not necessarily, as in electroless plating) between electrodes separated by an ionically conducting and electronically insulating electrolyte (or ionic species in a solution).” (Wikipedia)
“Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the interrelation of electrical and chemical effects. A large part of this field deals with the study of chemical changes caused by the passage of an electric current and the production of electrical energy by chemical reactions.” (Bard, A. J., Faulkner, L. R. (2001). Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals and Applications. Wiley.)
“It is a science that analyses and describes the transformations of matter on the atomic scale by shifts of electronic charge which can be controlled by means of electric devices.” (Lefrou, C., Fabry, P., & Poignet, J.-C. (2012). Electrochemistry: The Basics, With Examples (1st ed.). Springer Berlin, Heidelberg. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30250-3)
“Electrochemistry is a science, as well as an industrial domain, based on physicochemical phenomena taking place whenever electrical and chemical energy exchanges intervene in a reactive scheme.” (Lyon, S., Richardson, T. (Ed.), Cottis, B. (Ed.), Lindsay, R. (Ed.), Scantlebury, D. (Ed.), Stott, H. (Ed.), & Graham, M. (Ed.) (2010). Shreir’s Corrosion. (4th ed.) Elsevier BV.)
“Electrochemistry is a branch of physical chemistry that studies the chemical changes that occur due to the flow of electrical current.” (Zhao, G., & Gaddam, R.R. (Eds.). (2022). Handbook of Sodium-Ion Batteries: Materials and Characterization (1st ed.). Jenny Stanford Publishing. doi.org/10.1201/9781003308744)
“Electrochemistry is the study of chemical processes that cause electrons to move. This movement of electrons is called electricity, which can be generated by movements of electrons from one element to another in a reaction known as an oxidation-reduction (“redox”) reaction.” (LibreTexts)
“Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that focuses on the interplay between electrical energy and chemical reactions. More specifically, it examines how the flow of electrons drives chemical transformations and how chemical processes can, in turn, generate electrical currents.” (ChatGPT-o1 asked by me)