Question

Determine if each of the following statements is True or False about the salt bridge of any voltaic cell.

1) The salt bridge maintains electrical neutrality in the half-cells via migration of ions.
2) The cations in the salt bright move to the reduction half-cell.
3) Electrons flow from the anode to the cathode through the salt bridge.

Answer 1

The salt bridge maintains electrical neutrality by ion migration, cations move to the reduction half-cell is true, and electrons flow through the external circuit, not the salt bridge, so that statement is false.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to the statements about the salt bridge of a voltaic cell:

1. True: The salt bridge maintains electrical neutrality in the half-cells via migration of ions. This is because ions move through the salt bridge to maintain electrical neutrality as reactions occur in the cell.
2. True: The cations in the salt bridge move to the reduction half-cell, while anions move to the oxidation half-cell to neutralize the charge.
3. False: Electrons do not flow from the anode to the cathode through the salt bridge. They actually flow through the external circuit from the anode to the cathode. The salt bridge instead allows the movement of ions to complete the circuit and maintain charge balance.

An example to illustrate these concepts is the Zn/Cu voltaic cell, where Zn (s) oxidizes to Zn²+ (aq), releasing electrons that travel through an external circuit to the Cu²+ (aq) solution, reducing Cu²+ to Cu (s). The salt bridge, in this case, allows sulfate anions to move from the copper side to the zinc side to compensate for the charge changes.