GALVANIC CELLS

WHAT IS GALVANIC CELL? LET US UNDERSTAND HOW A VOLTAIC

OR GALVANIC CELL IS CREATED
Galvanic cells, or voltaic cells, generate electrical energy through
spontaneous oxidation-reduction reactions. These reactions
Oxidation-reduction reactions involve moving electrons between
produce a flow of electrons, resulting in the production of
species, releasing energy if spontaneous. This energy is used for
electricity.
useful work. To split the reaction into oxidation and reduction, two
containers and wires are used to drive electrons, creating a voltaic
For example, steel and copper electrodes immersed in an electrolyte is a galvanic cell;
cell, which drives the electrons from one end to the other. This
creates a voltaic cell.

PRINCIPLE OF GALVANIC (VOLTAIC) CELL

A galvanic cell generates electricity through the Gibbs energy
of spontaneous redox reactions in a voltaic cell. It consists of
two half cells and a salt bridge, each with a metallic electrode
dipped in an electrolyte. These cells are connected to a
voltmeter and switch using metallic wires. In some cases, a salt
PARTS OF GALVANIC CELL bridge isn't needed.

·Anode – Oxidation occurs at this electrode.

·Cathode – Reduction occurs at this electrode.
·Salt bridge – Contains electrolytes which are required to complete the circuit in EXAMPLE:
a galvanic cell.
·Half-cells – reduction and oxidation reactions are separated into compartments. A piece of copper wire is placed in a solution of
·External circuit – Conducts the flow of electrons between electrodes silver (I) nitrate. Immediately, silver metal begins
·Load – A part of the circuit utilizes the electron to flow to perform its function. to plate onto the copper metal (reduction), and
the copper metal becomes copper ions (oxidation).

HOW DOES IT WORK?

An elemental metal is spontaneously oxidized by ions of any

metal below it on the series.

CHEMISTRY OF BATTERIES

• Batteries are chemically powered by galvanic cells.

• A galvanic cell consists of two half cells: a reduction and an oxidation cell.
• Chemical reactions in these cells provide energy for operations.
• Each half cell contains an electrode and an electrolyte solution.
• Voltaic cells, also known as galvanic cells, use spontaneous reactions for
electric energy.
• Electrolytic cells combine two half cells for nonspontaneous chemical
reactions.

OXIDATION REDUCTION REACTIONS

Oxidation and reduction reactions have several different meanings. In terms

of electrochemistry, the following definition is more relevant since it
demonstrates how electrons function in battery chemistry.
GALVANIC CELL DIAGRAM
Oxidation and reduction processes cannot be carried out independently. They
must emerge together during a chemical reaction. Thus, oxidation and
reduction processes are sometimes referred to as redox reactions. In terms of The redox reaction
redox reactions, a reducing agent and an oxidizing agent create a redox pair is physically
during the reaction. divided into two
→
Oxidant+ne− Reductant half-cells, each
→
Reducant Oxidant+ne− representing a
An oxidant is an oxidising reagent, whereas a reductant is a reducing agent. half-reaction, and
The Reductant | oxidant, or oxidant | reductant. the flow of
Two members of the pair are the same element or chemical, but have electrons from the
different oxidation states. anode to the
cathode generates
electric current.

In a galvanic cell, an electrode generates ions in the electrolyte solution,

leaving electrons at the metal electrode negatively charged. The anode
and cathode have a potential difference, known as cell potential, which
is the electromotive force. When switched on, electrons flow.

REFERENCES:
GALVANIC CELL RECAP: Stoichiometry of Chemical Reactions Published byDwight
Nichols, https://slideplayer.com/user/16415350/
https://byjus.com/chemistry/galvanic-cell/
Electron Flow and Energy Harvesting https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemist
• Electrons flow from anode to cathode, harvested as electricity. ry/Chemistry_1e_(OpenSTAX)/17%3A_Electrochemistry/17
.2%3A_Galvanic_Cells
• Anode degrades as metal atoms ionize. Galvanic Cells by Chung (Peter) Chieh,
• Cathode grows as ions deposit on it. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chem
istry/Supplemental_Modules_(Analytical_Chemistry)/Elect
• Salt bridge prevents cathode from becoming negative, preventing electron flow. rochemistry/Basics_of_Electrochemistry/Electrochemistry
• Salt bridge also prevents anode from becoming too positive, preventing electron loss. /Galvanic_Cells