What is a salt bridge and how does it work? Are there other devices used in galvanic cells instead of a salt bridge?

A salt bridge is an inverted U-tube that contains an electrolyte and connects the two half-cells in a galvanic cell.

The salt bridge maintains electrical neutrality in the internal circuit.

See

Consider the galvanic cell shown below.

If there were no salt bridge, an excess of positive charge (##”Zn”^(2+)## ions) would build up in the left hand cell. This would oppose more ##”Zn”^(2+)## ions going into solution.

The ##”Cu”^(2+)## ions plating out on the copper would lead to an excess of negative charge (##”SO”_4^(2-)## ions) in solution. This would oppose the loss of more ##”Cu”^(2+)## ions.

The flow of electrons through the wire would soon come to a halt

.

The salt bridge keeps the contents of each half-cell separate and allows the flow of ions to maintain a balance of charge between them.

As positive charge builds up in the left hand cell, ##”SO”_4^(2-)## ions can flow in from the bridge and ##”Zn”^(2+)## ions can flow into the bridge.

As negative charge builds up in the right hand cell, ##”K”^+## ions can flow in from the bridge and ##”SO”_4^(2-)## ions can flow into the bridge.

Cations are flowing in one direction, and anions are flowing in the opposite direction. This countercurrent flow of ions is the internal circuit.

The process continues until the system reaches equilibrium.

Instead of a salt bridge, you can use a porous barrier of clay or fritted glass.

Some labs use beakers joined by a fritted glass disk.

Show more







Calculate Your Essay Price
(550 words)

Approximate price: $22

Calculate the price of your order

550 words
We'll send you the first draft for approval by September 11, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Total price:
$26
The price is based on these factors:
Academic level
Number of pages
Urgency
Basic features
  • Free title page and bibliography
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Plagiarism-free guarantee
  • Money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 support
On-demand options
  • Writer’s samples
  • Part-by-part delivery
  • Overnight delivery
  • Copies of used sources
  • Expert Proofreading
Paper format
  • 275 words per page
  • 12 pt Arial/Times New Roman
  • Double line spacing
  • Any citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard)

Our guarantees

Delivering a high-quality product at a reasonable price is not enough anymore.
That’s why we have developed 5 beneficial guarantees that will make your experience with our service enjoyable, easy, and safe.

Money-back guarantee

You have to be 100% sure of the quality of your product to give a money-back guarantee. This describes us perfectly. Make sure that this guarantee is totally transparent.

Read more

Zero-plagiarism guarantee

Each paper is composed from scratch, according to your instructions. It is then checked by our plagiarism-detection software. There is no gap where plagiarism could squeeze in.

Read more

Free-revision policy

Thanks to our free revisions, there is no way for you to be unsatisfied. We will work on your paper until you are completely happy with the result.

Read more

Privacy policy

Your email is safe, as we store it according to international data protection rules. Your bank details are secure, as we use only reliable payment systems.

Read more

Fair-cooperation guarantee

By sending us your money, you buy the service we provide. Check out our terms and conditions if you prefer business talks to be laid out in official language.

Read more

Order your essay today and save 10% with the coupon code: best10