A voltaic cell uses a spontaneous chemical reaction to generate an electric current.A voltaic cell in a circuit consists of:
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a negative electrode -anode |
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a positive electrode - cathode |
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an electrolyte |
In the electric cell (figure 1) pieces of Zn and Cu are dipped in CuSo4.The metals are connected through a voltmeter that potential difference is registred.The negative electrode releases electrons.The electrons flow through the external circuit to the positive electrode.
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Figure 1:voltaic cell :As long as there is an external circuit, electrons can flow through it from one electrode to another. Because zinc tends to lose electrons more readily than copper, zinc atoms in the zinc electrode lose electrons to produce zinc ions.The net result is that zinc metal reacts with copper ions to produce zinc ions and copper metal.