What is the purpose of a salt bridge in a galvanic cell?

Practice Questions

Q1
What is the purpose of a salt bridge in a galvanic cell?
  1. To connect the electrodes
  2. To maintain charge balance
  3. To increase voltage
  4. To decrease resistance

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

What is the purpose of a salt bridge in a galvanic cell?
  • Step 1: Understand that a galvanic cell has two parts called half-cells, one for oxidation and one for reduction.
  • Step 2: Realize that during the chemical reactions in these half-cells, electrons move from one half-cell to the other.
  • Step 3: Know that as electrons move, one half-cell becomes positively charged and the other becomes negatively charged.
  • Step 4: Learn that this charge imbalance can stop the reaction if not corrected.
  • Step 5: Understand that a salt bridge is a tube filled with a salt solution that connects the two half-cells.
  • Step 6: Recognize that the salt bridge allows ions to flow between the half-cells, which helps balance the charges.
  • Step 7: Conclude that the purpose of the salt bridge is to maintain charge balance so the reaction can continue.
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