A study of the behavior of the differential capacity of the electrical double layer of high‐purity, zone‐refined iron in
0.1NNa2SO4
, pH 2.3–6.5 has been made during forced cathodic decay of passivity using a fast single pulse technique. The capacity‐time curve shows a maximum >22 µf/cm2 (but <35 µf/cm2) at the end of the Flade plateau. This is explained on the basis of a desorption step of an as yet undefined charged particle. The capacity at O2 evolution potentials is 6–8 µf/cm2, compatible with an oxide film; at H2 evolution potentials it is 19 µf/cm2, independent of pH in both cases. The charge involved in the Flade plateau is 550–850 µcoul/cm2 with an average 680 µcoul/cm2.