Term: reference electrode https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05229 Definition: An external electrode system which comprises an inner element, usually mercury–mercury(I) chloride (calomel), silver–silver chloride or thallium amalgam–thallium(I) chloride, a chamber containing the appropriate filling solution and a device for forming a liquid junction, e.g. capillary, ceramic plug, fritted disc or ground glass sleeve. Related Terms: 1) liquid junction (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.L03584). 2) ceramic (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.CT07540). Source: Orange Book, 2nd ed., p. 27 (https://media.iupac.org/publications/analytical_compendium/) Citation: 'reference electrode' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05229 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.