Chemistry
How Polarography Measures Trace Metal Concentrations in Aqueous Samples
Quick fact
Polarography was invented by Jaroslav Heyrovský in 1922 and earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1959.
Why this is interesting
Imagine being able to detect a single drop of lead in an Olympic-sized swimming pool—that's the sensitivity of polarography. But how does simply applying a voltage to water reveal such tiny amounts of metal?