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Supporting electrolyte
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<p>A supporting electrolyte, in <a href="/facts/Electrochemistry/C0RUWpBH">electrochemistry</a>, according to an <a href="/facts/IUPAC/2AV6myCK">IUPAC</a> definition, is an <a href="/facts/Electrolyte/4YE8bIVa">electrolyte</a> containing <a href="/facts/Chemical_species/A8BxM3oW">chemical species</a> that are not electroactive (within the range of <a href="/facts/Electrode_potential/LfPpMt0u">potentials</a> used) and which has an <a href="/facts/Ionic_strength/72GKfhmE">ionic strength</a> and <a href="/facts/Conductivity_(electrolytic)/tLb0N5Be">conductivity</a> much larger than those due to the electroactive species added to the electrolyte. Supporting electrolyte is also sometimes referred to as <i>background electrolyte</i>, <i>inert electrolyte</i>, or <i>inactive electrolyte</i>. </p><p>Supporting electrolytes are widely used in electrochemical measurements when control of electrode potentials is required. This is done to increase the conductivity of the solution (to practically eliminate the so-called IR drop, or ohmic potential drop from <a href="/facts/Ohm%2527s_law/PjfEyTgI">Ohm's law</a>: V = IR), to eliminate the <a href="/facts/Ion_transport_number/k8NpAxJf">transport of electroactive species</a> by <a href="/facts/Ion/wrbwhF3z">ion</a> <a href="/facts/Electromigration/0aEaCFf7">migration</a> in the <a href="/facts/Electric_field/tt4MooBs">electric field</a>, to maintain constant ionic strength, to maintain constant <a href="/facts/PH/RnSv8D7y">pH</a>, etc. </p>