Abstract
It is suggested that a wide variety of oxidation reactions at platinum anodes in aqueous media involve mediation of the interfacial reaction by charged hydrous oxide species formed as surface‐bonded species at adatom sites on the metal surface. Such species are formed on Pt at potentials as low as 0.2V (RHE) in acid media and, with precautions taken to minimize deactivation problems, many reactive organic compounds commence oxidation in this region. This cyclic redox mechanism of reaction is complicated in the case of metals, though not with thermal oxides 
, by significant variation in the total number of active species at the interface. Recent spectroscopic data support the view that Pt(IV) species are present on Pt/Ru alloys at low potentials. The species formed on pure Pt in acid above 0.2V is assumed to be 
species; the OH ligands not only accelerate many oxidation processes but inhibit certain reduction processes at the interface. The behavior of Pt in base is complicated by an unusual E/pH shift.