What is Galvanic cell: Definition and 32 Discussions

A galvanic cell or voltaic cell, named after the scientists Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta, respectively, is an electrochemical cell in which an electric current is generated from spontaneous redox reactions. A common apparatus generally consists of two different metals, each immersed in separate beakers containing their respective metal ions in solution that are connected by a salt bridge (or separated by a porous membrane).Volta was the inventor of the voltaic pile, the first electrical battery. In common usage, the word "battery" has come to include a single galvanic cell, but a battery properly consists of multiple cells.

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  1. K

    QLD - Year 12 Chemistry Unit 3 and 4, IA2 student experiment suggestions please

    Heyy I just started year 12 this year, and my school has already started our IA2 student experiment, I was wondering which experiment would be the best choice for me to do and would help me to achieve a 20/20. 1. Titration experiment 2. Galvanic cell experiment could you also provide a list of...
  2. yucheng

    Chemistry Confused with Galvanic Cell concept

    I was watching this video that I found on Youtube. My question is, does type of electrolyte affect the voltage reading, since it dictates which redox reactions are possible? (here, Na2SO4 instread of CuSO4) Consider a Mg|Cu electrode pair in a galvanic cell; the reaction is, usually in...
  3. cianfa72

    Voltaic Cell behaviour as described in this video

    Hi, googling for Voltaic cell I found this video about it. At minute 2:35 to 2:54 you can see that, without any electrical conductor connected between electrodes, in the Copper half-cell the metal electrode (Cathode) gets an amount of negative charges (electrons). Basically what described there...
  4. cianfa72

    Galvanic cell - open circuit voltage and EMF

    Hi, having not a deep knowledge of electrochemistry I've some doubts about processes involved in a galvanic cell. Take for instance a Zn/Cu Daniell cell for which E0cell is 1,10V. That means emf for it is 1,10V. Starting to read from how battery works I had a first understanding of how...
  5. D

    Physical details of the operation of galvanic cells

    I'm trying to understand the physical details of the mechanism, by which galvanic cells work, instead of more abstract descriptions of the half reactions that take place and I find it hard to piece together concrete information on this. Below is a description of my basic understanding of the...
  6. Biker

    Negative ions affecting galvanic cell voltage

    I saw this more related to physics than chemistry. So I have been trying to model how the voltage is generated in galvanic. I couldn't find any online and I thought it would be a good exercise. I modeled ions as electric charges with different magnitude of charge. Each producing a different...
  7. C

    Solve Galvanic Cell Problem: Iron Oxidation

    http://imgur.com/a/wGTEQ The example is straight from my textbook. Since the iron is being oxidized, and it has a negative cell potential to begin with, wouldn't you flip the equation to make it the anode and in the end add it to the other cell potential?
  8. T

    Galvanic Cell Changes: Copper Deposition on X

    Homework Statement During electrolysis in the cell below, 1.05 g copper is deposited on electrode X. Which one of the following statements is correct? (Relative atomic masses Cu = 63, Ag = 108). A) The mass of silver electrode W decreases by 3.60 g.B) The mass of silver deposited on...
  9. P

    Explain why Zn is released and write the general equation.

    Homework Statement We throw clean Zn in a HCl solution and see that nothing happens. We add 2-3 drops CuSO4 and some kind of gas starts to release. Why dos this happen? Write the equation Homework Equations Zn+HCl->ZnCl2+H2 The Attempt at a Solution I know that equation and also...
  10. D

    Conservation of energy violation of galvanic cell electron

    When a galvanic reaction reclaims its (single) electron, magnetic energy (about 0.356 eV) within a superconductor will remain, w/o a means of replacing the galvanic electron. During the reaction, electrical current from the single electron would correspond to the number of times per second...
  11. D

    Does electrical conduction require energy state changes?

    Molecules do not use magnetic energy as latent heat - adding magnetic energy does not cause a phase change. If electrical conduction indeed required energy state changes, then during electrical conduction, a change of energy state would likely consume magnetic energy as latent heat, instead of...
  12. D

    Find Cell Potential Given Mass

    Homework Statement Consider the following half reactions at 298 K Ni2+ + 2 e- → Ni Eo = -0.231 V Pb2+ + 2 e- → Pb Eo = -0.133 V A galvanic cell based on these half reactions is set up under standard conditions where each solution is 1.00 L and each electrode weighs exactly 100.0 g. What will...
  13. gracy

    Help to understand reversibility in galvanic cell

    Homework Statement :-I am confused about some lines in my textbook about galvanic cell[/B]Homework Equations :-The lines are as follows... The cell is connected to an external source of potential that opposes and exactly balance the cell potential . If the external potential is reduced...
  14. J

    Galvanic Cell Reactions and Potential Calculation

    Hey guys! I'm not sure if I solved this correctly. If you could please take a look at my answers I'd really appreciate it. Thank you in advance! (I tried using the super subscript option but I started to confuse myself because of all the coding so I just stuck with the up arrow (^) I hope you...
  15. T

    Solve Galvanic Cell Question Homework

    Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Not feeling too confident about these answers, 1.1) Chemical to electrical 1.2) Iron 1.3) Positive 1.4) kCl 1.5) Sn to electrode A 1.6.1) towards Cl2 half cell 1.6.2) towards Sn half cell...
  16. z.js

    Galvanic Cell Plating of Iron & Magnesium on Copper: What Use is it?

    I was thinking of plating iron or magnesium on to copper with a galvanic cell. Would this work? 3Cu(s) + 2Fe2+(aq) --> 3Cu2+(aq) + 2Fe(s) Cu(s) + Mg2+(aq) --> Cu2+(aq) + Mg(s) In the cathode, when the Cu turns into Cu2+ and makes Cu(OH)2, of what use is it? And in the anode, when the O2-...
  17. P

    Calculating ξ° value for a galvanic cell

    Calculate the ξ° value for the galvanic cell: IO3(aq) + Fe2+(aq) <--> Fe3+(aq) + I2(aq) So I found the half reactions to be: 5Fe2+(aq) --> 5Fe3+(aq) + 5e- Reducing agent 0.77V 6H+(aq) + 5Fe2+(aq) + 5e- --> I2(aq) + 3H2O Oxidizing agent The problem I have is that I can't find the...
  18. C

    Finding Ka using a Galvanic cell and Electric Potential

    Homework Statement Suppose you wish to determine Ka for a monoprotic weak acid of molecular mass 76.11 g/mol. The pH meter you need to use is not working. You decide to weigh out 2.28 g of the acid and 1.96 of its sodium salt and dissolve them together in water, add quinhydrone and set up a...
  19. B

    How Do Galvanic Cell Dynamics Change Upon Connection of an External Conductor?

    I'd like to understand the dynamics of a galvanic cell in terms of fundamental physical principles, rather than the usual higher-level equilibrium chemistry explanation. Specifically, how do the states of the electrodes, solutions and salt bridge evolve in the time immediately after the...
  20. G

    How does a salt bridge prevent charge buildup in a galvanic cell?

    As electrons leave one half of a galvanic cell and flow to the other, a difference in charge is established. If no salt bridge were used, this charge difference would prevent further flow of electrons. Why would the charge difference prevent further flow of electrons ??
  21. R

    Solve Galvanic Cell: 0.050M Cu2+, AlCl3 0.0118M

    Homework Statement Consider a Galvanic Cell composed of one half-cell containing 0.050 M copper(II) sulfate with a copper electrode and another half-cell containing an unknown concentration of aluminum chloride, AlCl3, and an aluminum electrode. a. Write the Nernst equation for this...
  22. A

    Calculating EMF of Galvanic Cell

    Homework Statement What is the emf of the galvanic cell Al(s)[Al+3(aq .18mol/liter) [] Fe+2(aq .85mol/liter)[Fe(s) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Al(s) ---> Al+3 + 3e E=-1.676 V Fe+2 + 2e ---> Fe(s) E=-.440V How do we proceed after this...
  23. B

    Galvanic Cell Conceptual Question

    Homework Statement In a galvanic cell, the electrode that builds up a precipitate of metal (known as plating out) is: A. the cathode, and its surface is rich in positive charge. B. the anode, and its surface is rich in positive charge. C. the cathode, and its surface is rich in electrons. D...
  24. T

    How do I know where each component of a reaction goes within a galvanic cell?

    Trying to teach myself electrochemistry out of a textbook and it's kind of confusing at some parts without any teacher to ask questions, but I think I'm doing a pretty good job. I've got a test tomorrow on this stuff and I'm kind of burned out from studying (about 20 hours in the past 4 days) so...
  25. G

    Electrochemistry - Galvanic Cell

    Homework Statement Two learners, Wade and Tang are working together on a project. They were asked by their teacher to assemble a galvanic cell that would produce a large enough voltage to light up a 1.5V bulb. They are allowed to use two electrodes, one of which must be a zinc electrode...
  26. S

    Concentrations in a galvanic cell

    Homework Statement I am doing an investigation on the factors that affect the voltage of a galvanic cell (or daniell cell). I have two beakers with zinc and copper strips and zinc sulphate and copper sulphate. How would there be an electrical current produced (significantly lower however) with...
  27. L

    Solve Galvanic Cell Homework with Redox Table

    Homework Statement In a galvanic cell, how do we know which substance is the anode and which is the cathode by using the standard reduction potential chart (redox table)? Ex) Between Cu and Zn, which will donate electrons best...Ex) Pb+2 and Zn+2 which will accept electrons best...I'm really...
  28. S

    Help Solving a Puzzling Galvanic Cell Experiment!

    iwe had an expirament that goes like this we made a galvanic cell with half cell zinc and its solution (Zn(NO3)2) and the other half cell was with iron and its solution (Fe(NO3)3) (the Fe solution with ions Fe+3) (both same concentration!) the potential i measured was 0.287V now i just don't...
  29. N

    Factors Affecting Galvanic Cell Voltage

    Hi Guys, a quick answer will be great! Just wanting to know, what are some of the factors that affect the voltage of a galvanic cell?
  30. T

    Low Voltage Galvanic Cell Troubleshooting

    I had to make a galvanic cell for my chemistry class and it was supposed to have a voltage of 2.3 but for some reason it only was .5. My cell was comprised of a iron and aluminim electrode with the respective nitrates.( potassium nitrate salt bridge) it was wondering if anybody knew why it would...
  31. N

    Setting up a galvanic cell (1.25V)

    This is what I have chosen I2 (s) + 2e- = 2I- (aq) reduction potential is +0.53 Zn2+ (aq) + 2e- = Zn (s) reduction potential is -0.76 using nerntz I get E = 1.29 - (0.0257/2)(ln (2.24/0.1) E= 1.2500 What would could I use to get the I and Zn ions? Also, would the...
  32. N

    Galvanic Cell Setup with Cu and Mg | Achieving 2.68 V Voltage

    I am attempting to put together a galvanic cell with a voltage of 2.68 V Here is what I used KCl salt brigde Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- = Cu(s) Red Potent = +0.34 used 1 M CuSO4 Mg2+ (aq) + 2e- = Mg(s) Red Potent = -2.37 used .1 M MgSO4 Nrtz eq E = E - 0.0257/2 (ln Q) It...
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