What is a salt bridge in a galvanic cell?
Salt bridge: The salt bridge is used in electrochemical cells to connect the oxidation and reduction half cells of a galvanic cell. Generally, a salt bridge is composed of strong electrolytes like Potassium chloride (KCl) A Salt bridge is used to maintain electrical neutrality inside the circuit of a galvanic cell.
What is a salt bridge?
A salt bridge is a device used in an electrochemical cell for connecting its oxidation and reduction half cells wherein a weak electrolyte is used. In other words, a salt bridge is a junction that connects the anodic and cathodic compartments in a cell or electrolytic solution.
What is the purpose of the electrolyte in the salt bridge?
The electrolyte in the salt bridge serves two purposes: it completes the circuit by carrying electrical charge and maintains electrical neutrality in both solutions by allowing ions to migrate between them.
How do ions maintain electrical neutrality in a cathode cell?
In order to maintain electrical neutrality, the negatively charged (NO 3–) ion moves to the positively charged beaker (anodic half-cell). A similar situation develops in the cathode cell but in reverse. Here, the Cu 2+ ions are consumed. So, to maintain electrical neutrality, the K + ions are migrated into this half-cell from the salt bridge.
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