Help Undersanding The Voltaic Cell

Thread starter coreluccio
Start date Oct 2, 2010
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Cell

AI Thread Summary

Zinc metal reacts with aqueous copper (II) ions through an electrochemical process that requires a complete circuit, which is typically established using a salt bridge and connecting wires. The salt bridge allows for the movement of ions between the two separate jars, facilitating the flow of electrons. When zinc is placed in a solution containing copper (II) ions, zinc donates electrons to the copper ions, reducing them to solid copper. This reaction occurs despite the physical separation because the ions can migrate through the salt bridge, maintaining charge balance and enabling the electrochemical reaction to proceed.

Oct 2, 2010

coreluccio

Alright, so I understand how it works, except that, I don't get how zinc metal reacts with aqueous copper (II) ions if they are completely separated by two jars. How can a copper (II) ion pull the electrons from solid zinc when it can't even physically collide with zinc?

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Oct 2, 2010

zhermes

They have to be connected by a salt-bridge, and also another (usually) wire to complete the circuit.

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