electrode that participates as a reactant or product in the oxidation-reduction reaction of an electrochemical cell; the mass of an active electrode changes during the oxidation-reduction reaction

electrode in an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs

electrode in an electrochemical cell at which reduction occurs

cell notation (schematic)

symbolic representation of the components and reactions in an electrochemical cell

cell potential (E_cell)

difference in potential of the cathode and anode half-cells

galvanic (voltaic) cell

electrochemical cell in which a spontaneous redox reaction takes place; also called a voltaic cell

electrode that conducts electrons to and from the reactants in a half-cell but that is not itself oxidized or reduced

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Chemistry 2e · 17.2 Galvanic Cells

Galvanic Cells: practice problems

5 problems from the book, with its answers. Check your working, or have any of them explained to you on the whiteboard.

Exercises 11
Write cell schematics for the following cell reactions, using platinum as an inert electrode as needed.
(a) $Mg (s) + Ni^{2 +} (a q) ⟶ Mg^{2 +} (a q) + Ni (s)$
(b) $2 Ag^{+} (a q) + Cu (s) ⟶ Cu^{2 +} (a q) + 2Ag (s)$
(c) $Mn (s) + Sn(NO_{3})_{2} (a q) ⟶ Mn(NO_{3})_{2} (a q) + Sn (s)$
(d) $3 CuNO_{3} (a q) + Au(NO_{3})_{3} (a q) ⟶ 3Cu(NO_{3})_{2} (a q) + Au (s)$
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Exercises 13
Write a balanced equation for the cell reaction of each cell in the previous exercise.
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Exercises 15
Identify the oxidant and reductant in each reaction of the previous exercise.
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Exercises 17
Why is a salt bridge necessary in galvanic cells like the one in Figure 17.3?
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Exercises 19
An active (metal) electrode was found to lose mass as the oxidation-reduction reaction was allowed to proceed. Was the electrode an anode or a cathode? Explain.
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Key terms · 7

active electrode: electrode that participates as a reactant or product in the oxidation-reduction reaction of an electrochemical cell; the mass of an active electrode changes during the oxidation-reduction reaction
anode: electrode in an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
cathode: electrode in an electrochemical cell at which reduction occurs
cell notation (schematic): symbolic representation of the components and reactions in an electrochemical cell
cell potential (E_cell): difference in potential of the cathode and anode half-cells
galvanic (voltaic) cell: electrochemical cell in which a spontaneous redox reaction takes place; also called a voltaic cell
inert electrode: electrode that conducts electrons to and from the reactants in a half-cell but that is not itself oxidized or reduced

Learn 17.2 on the whiteboard

The tutor teaches the whole section, drawing it out step by step and answering your questions as you go.

Read 17.2 in the textbook · This section on openstax.org

Galvanic Cells: practice problems

5 problems from the book, with its answers. Check your working, or have any of them explained to you on the whiteboard.

Exercises 11

Write cell schematics for the following cell reactions, using platinum as an inert electrode as needed.

(a) $Mg (s) + Ni^{2 +} (a q) ⟶ Mg^{2 +} (a q) + Ni (s)$

(b) $2 Ag^{+} (a q) + Cu (s) ⟶ Cu^{2 +} (a q) + 2Ag (s)$

(d) $3 CuNO_{3} (a q) + Au(NO_{3})_{3} (a q) ⟶ 3Cu(NO_{3})_{2} (a q) + Au (s)$

Exercises 13

Write a balanced equation for the cell reaction of each cell in the previous exercise.

Exercises 15

Identify the oxidant and reductant in each reaction of the previous exercise.

Exercises 17

Why is a salt bridge necessary in galvanic cells like the one in Figure 17.3?

Exercises 19

An active (metal) electrode was found to lose mass as the oxidation-reduction reaction was allowed to proceed. Was the electrode an anode or a cathode? Explain.

Key terms · 7

active electrode: electrode that participates as a reactant or product in the oxidation-reduction reaction of an electrochemical cell; the mass of an active electrode changes during the oxidation-reduction reaction
anode: electrode in an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
cathode: electrode in an electrochemical cell at which reduction occurs
cell notation (schematic): symbolic representation of the components and reactions in an electrochemical cell
cell potential (E_cell): difference in potential of the cathode and anode half-cells
galvanic (voltaic) cell: electrochemical cell in which a spontaneous redox reaction takes place; also called a voltaic cell
inert electrode: electrode that conducts electrons to and from the reactants in a half-cell but that is not itself oxidized or reduced

Learn 17.2 on the whiteboard

The tutor teaches the whole section, drawing it out step by step and answering your questions as you go.

Read 17.2 in the textbook · This section on openstax.org