This document discusses oxygen overvoltage and overpotential. It explains that oxygen overvoltage is the difference between the theoretical oxygen reduction potential of +1.23 V and the experimentally observed electrode potential. It occurs because oxygen reduction involves multiple steps - the oxidation of water to oxygen gas and protons, and then the reverse reduction of oxygen and protons back to water. These multi-step reactions contribute to an overpotential above the theoretical potential. The document also includes the electrochemical series and diagrams showing how concentration gradients and distance from the electrode surface can contribute to overvoltage.