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Chemistry Medium #electrochemistry

Galvanic and Electrolytic Cells

Spontaneous redox creates voltage (galvanic); applied voltage drives non-spontaneous redox (electrolytic).

A free, animated galvanic and electrolytic cells you can read here or embed on any website, from Scrollchart.

Galvanic and Electrolytic Cells

Galvanic and Electrolytic CellsSpontaneous redox releases electrical energy (galvanic); applied EMF drives non-spontaneous redox (electrolytic)Galvanic Cell (Daniell)Spontaneous — deltaG < 0, E° = +1.10 VKNO₃ bridgeZn (anode)Cu (cathode)ZnSO₄ (aq)CuSO₄ (aq)~eeZn Zn² + 2eE° = -0.76 VCu² + 2e CuE° = +0.34 VElectrolytic CellNon-spontaneous — external EMF applied (e.g. electroplating)Anode (+)Cathode (-)CuSO₄ (aq) electrolyteDC sourceeeH₂O O₂ + H + eoxidationCu² + 2e Cureduction / platingGalvanic: spontaneous deltaG < 0, produces current | Electrolytic: forced deltaG > 0, consumes current

Two side-by-side cells: galvanic (e.g. Daniell, Zn/Cu) generating EMF, vs electrolytic (electroplating, electrolysis of water) consuming external power.

Good for

  • Electrochemistry lectures covering redox spontaneity and cell potential
  • Demonstrating electroplating and electrolysis to introductory chemistry students
  • AP/A-Level exam revision on galvanic vs electrolytic cell distinctions

Source & accuracy

This galvanic and electrolytic cells is an editorial illustration built to represent the concept accurately. Where it shows figures, they are typical or representative values chosen to make the relationship clear, not a single underlying dataset. The diagram and its explainer are reviewed and maintained centrally, and updated over time as understanding improves.

Galvanic versus electrolytic cells

Both galvanic and electrolytic cells couple oxidation and reduction reactions through electrodes and an electrolyte, but they run in opposite directions. A galvanic cell, also called a voltaic cell, uses a spontaneous redox reaction to generate an electric current; this is how batteries work. An electrolytic cell does the reverse, using an external voltage to force a non-spontaneous reaction, as in electroplating or the electrolysis of water.

In a galvanic cell chemical energy becomes electrical energy. In an electrolytic cell electrical energy is consumed to drive chemistry uphill.

Electrodes, signs, and reading the diagram

In every electrochemical cell, oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction at the cathode. The polarity of those electrodes, however, flips between cell types. In a galvanic cell the anode is negative and the cathode positive, since the reaction pushes electrons out spontaneously. In an electrolytic cell the external power source makes the anode positive and the cathode negative.

Tracking the sign of the cell potential clarifies the difference: a positive cell potential indicates a spontaneous galvanic reaction, while a negative one means an external source is needed, defining an electrolytic process.

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Reference

What this is
A free, embeddable, animated galvanic and electrolytic cells for any website.
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