Jaroslav Heyrovský's Polarography

The segment from the 1940 Český zvukový týdeník Aktualita (Czech Aktualita Sound Newsreel) Issue No. 3B shows scientist Jaroslav Heyrovský with physical chemist Rudolf Brdička who is demonstrating the principles of polarography. The method is used to determine the presence and concentration of substances in a solution. The camera captures the evaluation of the electric current's dependence on the voltage applied to a pair of electrodes immersed in a solution; with one electrode - the mercury drop electrode - being "perfectly" polarizable, while the other being non-polarizable. The curve on the graph shows polarographic waves that signify what various substances are present. The concentration of the respective substances is then determined by the electric current increases. An image shows the process of electrolysis of a human blood solution. Heyrovský's colleague, Masuzo Shikata from Japan, is also mentioned in the commentary.