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Which statement is true regarding the pictured cell?

1) Gold ions get reduced at the gold strip.
2) Gold ions get reduced and coated onto the glasses.
3) Electrons flow from the glasses to the gold strip.
4) The metal of the glasses shrinks.

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Gold ions get reduced and coated onto the glasses in an electrochemical cell, where the glasses likely serve as the cathode.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement regarding the pictured cell is that Gold ions get reduced and coated onto the glasses. This process occurs in an electrochemical cell where a redox reaction takes place, involving the transfer of electrons between two electrodes connected by a wire and a salt bridge.

In such cells, reduction occurs at the cathode, where ions gain electrons. The location where oxidation occurs and electrons are lost is known as the anode. Therefore, if gold ions are to be reduced, it would happen at the cathode, which might be represented by the glasses if they act as the cathode. Consequently, the gold ions in the surrounding solution would gain electrons and get reduced to form a layer of gold metal on the glasses.

Electrons naturally flow from the anode to the cathode in an electrochemical cell. In the context provided, since gold ions are being reduced, electrons would flow toward the gold ions, indicating that they are at or near the cathode—hence, the glasses are likely to be the cathode. The other statements given are not consistent with standard electrochemical cell operations.

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