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Nikita Parmar

Updated on 21st July, 2023 , 3 min read

Galvanic Cells: Definitions, Examples, How They are Created,  Principles, Parts, Working and Uses

Galvanic Cells Overview

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. A galvanic cell, often known as a voltaic cell after the scientists Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta, is an electrochemical cell in which an electric current is created by spontaneous Oxidation-Reduction events.

Galvanic Cells

What are Galvanic Cells?

A galvanic cell, or voltaic cell, is an electrochemical cell that transforms the chemical energy of spontaneous redox reactions into electrical energy. It is an electrochemical cell that generates electrical energy through chemical processes.

Examples of Galvanic Cells

More than a century ago, electrochemical or galvanic cells were created as a technique for researching the thermodynamic features of fused salts. A galvanic cell, such as Daniel's cell, turns chemical energy into electrical energy. In Daniel's cell, copper ions are reduced at the cathode while zinc ions are oxidized at the anode. Daniel's cell reactions at the cathode and anode are as follows-

At cathode: Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu

At anode: Zn → Zn2+ + 2e-

Galvanic Cells

How Galvanic Cells are created?

Electrons are transferred from one species to another in oxidation-reduction processes. If the reaction occurs spontaneously, energy is liberated. As a result, the liberated energy is put to good use. To deal with this energy, the reaction must be separated into two half-reactions, which are as follows-

  1. Oxidation
  2. Reduction

The reactions are put into two distinct containers, and wires are used to move the electrons from one end to the other. This results in the formation of galvanic cells or voltaic cells.

Principle of Galvanic Cells

The Gibbs energy of the spontaneous redox reaction in the voltaic cell is primarily responsible for the electric work done by a galvanic cell. It is typically made up of two half-cells and a salt bridge. Each half-cell also has a metallic electrode immersed in an electrolyte. These two half-cells are externally linked to a voltmeter and a switch via metallic cables. When both electrodes are immersed in the same electrolyte, a salt bridge is not always necessary.

Parts of Galvanic Cells

The following are some parts of the Galvanic cells-

  1. Anode: This electrode undergoes oxidation.
  2. Cathode: This electrode undergoes reduction.
  3. External Circuit: Allows electrons to pass between electrodes.
  4. Half Cells: compartments for reduction and oxidation processes.
  5. Load: A component of the circuit that uses electron flow to fulfill its job.
  6. Salt bridge:  A salt bridge contains electrolytes that are needed to complete the circuit in a galvanic cell.

Working of Galvanic Cells

The following is the working of Galvanic Cells-

  1. A galvanic cell makes use of the ability to split the flow of electrons during the oxidation and reduction processes by creating a half-reaction and connecting each with a wire so that a conduit for the flow of electrons through such a wire may be constructed. 
  2. This movement of electrons is referred to as a current.
  3. A current of this type may be produced to flow via a wire in order to complete a circuit and acquire its output in any device, such as a television or a watch.
  4. 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.
  5. A galvanic cell may be constructed from any two metals. 
  6. If these two metals come into contact with each other, they can create the anode and cathode. This combination allows for galvanic corrosion of the more anodic metal. 
  7. To allow this corrosion to occur, a connecting circuit will be necessary.

Uses of Galvanic Cells

The following are some of the uses of Galvanic Cells-

Galvanic cells are employed in the commercial manufacturing of batteries because they transfer chemical energy to electrical energy.

This may be used to power remote controls, clocks, torches, and even electric vehicles. Galvanic cells are classified into two types-

  1. Primary (disposable) Batteries: Primary batteries are single-use, non-rechargeable batteries with irreversible electrode reactions.
  2. Secondary (rechargeable) Batteries: Secondary batteries are rechargeable and include an insoluble element that adheres to the electrodes. They function as ordinary galvanic cells when in use and as electrolytic cells when charging. 

Galvanic Cells

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Daniel's cell a galvanic cell?

Ans. A galvanic cell is also known as a voltaic cell or a Daniell cell. The standard home battery is an example of a galvanic cell. The electrons pass from one chemical process to another via an external circuit, resulting in a current.

What exactly is the purpose of a galvanic cell?

Ans. A galvanic cell is a type of electrochemical cell. It is used to supply electrical current via an electron transfer redox process. A galvanic cell is an example of how to harvest energy by using simple reactions between a few components.

Why is the cathode positive in a galvanic cell?

Ans. The anode is the electrode where oxidation (electronic loss) takes place; it is the negative electrode in a galvanic cell because electrons are left on the electrode when oxidation takes place. Because there are fewer positive ions in metal atoms, the cathode is a neutral electrode.

What exactly is a galvanic cell?

Ans. An electrochemical cell that transfers the chemical energy of spontaneous redox reactions into electrical energy is known as a galvanic cell. A voltaic cell is another name for it.

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

Ans. A salt bridge is required in a galvanic cell to preserve the neutrality of the solution and allow the free movement of ions from one cell to another.

How is a voltaic cell made?

Ans. The basic cell, also known as a voltaic cell, is composed of two electrodes, one made of copper and the other of zinc, which are immersed in a dilute sulfuric acid solution in a glass vessel. When the two electrodes are linked externally using a piece of wire, current flows from copper to zinc outside the cell and from zinc to copper within the cell.

How do you draw a galvanic cell?

Ans. A simple voltaic cell is made by submerging a zinc plate and a copper plate in a diluted sulfuric acid solution. A voltaic cell is an electrochemical cell that uses a chemical process to generate electrical energy. The oxidation and reduction processes are split into half-cell sections.

How does temperature affect the galvanic cell?

Ans. The Nernst equation proposed an inverse relationship between galvanic cell voltage and temperature, implying that galvanic cell voltage falls as temperature rises.

What will happen if the salt bridge dries up?

Ans. If the salt bridge fails, the anode half becomes positively charged while the cathode half becomes negatively charged. The cell will die as a result of this charge imbalance.

In a galvanic cell, where does oxidation occur

Ans. The anode of a galvanic cell undergoes oxidation.

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