Depolarizer

<p>A depolarizer or depolariser, in electrochemistry, according to an <a href="/facts/IUPAC/2AV6myCK">IUPAC</a> definition, is a synonym of electroactive substance, i.e., a substance which changes its <a href="/facts/Oxidation_state/W53W6s6V">oxidation state</a>, or partakes in a formation or breaking of chemical bonds, in a <a href="/facts/Intervalence_charge_transfer/0A5Pto7W">charge-transfer</a> step of an <a href="/facts/Electrochemical_reaction/C0RUWpBH">electrochemical reaction</a>.
</p><p>In the <a href="/facts/Battery_industry/bqEpm4ue">battery industry</a>, the term "depolarizer" has been used to denote a substance used in a <a href="/facts/Primary_cell/udJP2wJ1">primary cell</a> to prevent buildup of hydrogen gas bubbles. A battery depolarizer takes up electrons during discharge of the cell; therefore, it is always an <a href="/facts/Oxidizing_agent/1FQzB8pQ">oxidizing agent</a>. The term "depolarizer" can be considered as outdated or misleading, since it is based on the concept of "<a href="/facts/Polarisation_(electrochemistry)/tmSlhS3K">polarization</a>" which is hardly realistic in many cases.
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Depolarizer open-in-new

Depolarizer