What is Electrochemical Cell all about?
It is termed
to be a device designed to produce electric current. It is achieved from energy
that is rereleased by redox spontaneous reactions. Such cell type includes
voltaic or galvanic cells. It has derived its name after Alessandro Volta and
Luigi Galvani. During late 18th century, several experiments have
been conducted by these scientists on electrical current and chemical
reactions.
Two types of conductive electrodes
When Electrochemical
Cell is concerned, there are two conductive electrodes, referred to as
cathode and anode. The latter is termed as electrode where oxidation takes
place. The other is cathode where there occurs reduction process. Any
conductive material like graphite, semiconductors, metals and conductive
polymers can be used to create electrodes. Electrolyte is placed in-between the
electrodes, containing freely moving ions.
Voltaic cell
Two different
types of metal electrodes are used in this cell with each of them immersed
within an electrolyte solution. Cathode undergoes reduction while anode
undergoes oxidation. Anode metal oxidizes thereby getting into positive
oxidation state to become ion from 0 (solid form) oxidation state. Metal ion in
solution, at cathode accepts more than one electron from cathode. Ion’s
oxidation state gets reduced to 0.
What does it produce?
Solid metal
is formed that gets deposited on cathode. Two electrodes are to be connected
electrically with one another. Thus, it allows electron flow leaving anode
metal to flow via this connection to reach ions at cathode surface. This
electron flow is electrical current used for performing work like powering a
light or turning a motor. Ag
Agcl Reference Electrode is a classic example.
Example reaction
Voltaic
cell’s operating principle is simultaneous reduction and oxidation reaction,
referred to as redox reaction. Two half-reactions occur in redox reaction. Redox
pair in any typical voltaic cell is zinc and copper.
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