VOLTAIC CELL

ALESSANDRO VOLTA

VOLTAIC CELL :

*IT IS A SIMPLE CELL WHICH CONVERTS CHEMICAL ENERGY IN TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY.

*ANODE - COPPER
 CATHODE - ZINC
 ELECTROLYTE - Dil.H2SO4
 EMF - 1.08 V

*IONISATION TAKES PLACE AT THE CATHODE.

*TWO ELECTRONS LEFT AT THE CATHODE AND Zn IONS PASS IN TO THE SOLUTION i.e.,

Zn + Dil.H2SO4 ------> ZnSO4 + 2H + 2 electrons

*TWO HYDROGEN IONS ARE DISCHARGED AT THE ANODE. CURRENT FLOWS CONTINUOUSLY IN THE EXTERNAL CIRCUIT AS LONG AS ELECTRONS  ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CATHODE.


*WHEN THE ELECTRODES ARE CONNECTED BY A WIRE EXTERNALLY, CURRENT FLOW FROM COPPER TO ZINC OUTSIDE THE CELL AND CURRENT FLOWS FROM ZINC TO COPPER INSIDE THE CELL.


*DUE TO OPPOSITE CHARGES ON THE TWO ELECTRODES A POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IS PRODUCED BETWEEN COPPER AND ZINC WHERE COPPER IS AT HIGHER POTENTIAL THAN ZINC.