CHM211H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 18: Electrochemical Cell, Salt Bridge, Internal Resistance
Document Summary
Redox and acid/base reactions, one or more charged particles are transferred from a donor to an acceptor. When an acid donates a proton, it becomes its conjugate base and when a reducing agent donates an electron, it becomes an oxidizing agent that can accept an electron. Redox reactions take place in electrochemical cell in which the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent are physically separated from one another. Salt bridge isolates the reactants but maintains electrical contact between the two halves of the cell. When a voltmeter of high internal resistance is connected as shown or the electrodes are not connected externally, the cell is said to be at open circuit and delivers the full cell potential. When the circuit is open, no net reaction occurs in the cell, although we shall show that the cell has the potential for doing work. The voltmeter measures the potential difference, or voltage, between the two electrodes at any instant.
