Electrochemical Cells Intro Flashcards
What is reduction and where does it occur?
o Reduction is the gain of electrons and occurs at the cathode
Is the chemistry is a voltaic cell, spontaneous or non-spontaneous?
o In a voltaic cell (or a galvanic cell or a battery), the chemistry is spontaneous
What is oxidation and where does it occur?
o Oxidation is the loss of electrons and occurs at the anode
When neither the reactants or products are metals, what type of electrode is needed?
o For some reactions, neither the reactants nor the products are a metal. In this case, an inert (non-reactive) metal electrode is required to deliver/collect the electrons for the reaction
Is the chemistry in a electrolytic cell spontaneous or non-spontaneous?
o In an electrolytic cell, the chemistry is non-spontaneous and requires an external power source to drive the chemistry
What is the purpose of a salt bridge?
o A salt bridge allows the migration of spectator ions to balance the flow of electrons
What is the shorthand notation for an electrochemical cell?
o Anode Electrode | Anode Electrode Solution || Cathode Electrode Solution | Cathode Electrode
