AP Chemistry Flashcards: Galvanic Voltaic And Electrolytic Cells

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Galvanic Voltaic And Electrolytic Cells, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Chemistry.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: State the relationship between Gibbs free energy and cell potential.

Answer: $\Delta G = -nFE_{cell}$. Links thermodynamic favorability to electrochemical potential.

Flashcard 2: What is the role of a porous disk in a galvanic cell?

Answer: To allow ion exchange while preventing mixing. Similar to salt bridge but uses physical barrier.

Flashcard 3: Find the cell potential given $E_{cathode} = 0.80$ V and $E_{anode} = 0.40$ V.

Answer: $0.40$ V. Using $E_{cell} = E_{cathode} - E_{anode} = 0.80 - 0.40$.

Flashcard 4: What does a positive cell potential indicate?

Answer: The reaction is spontaneous. Reaction proceeds naturally without external energy input.

Flashcard 5: What is the role of the salt bridge in a galvanic cell?

Answer: To maintain electrical neutrality. Allows ion migration to balance charge as reactions proceed.

Flashcard 6: Identify the charge of the anode in a galvanic cell.

Answer: Negative. Loses electrons during oxidation, creating electron excess.

Flashcard 7: Identify the charge of the cathode in an electrolytic cell.

Answer: Negative. Connected to negative terminal of external power source.

Flashcard 8: What occurs at the anode in a galvanic cell?

Answer: Oxidation. Electrons are lost, making anode the source of electrons.

Flashcard 9: Identify the charge of the cathode in a galvanic cell.

Answer: Positive. Gains electrons during reduction, creating electron deficiency.

Flashcard 10: Which metal acts as a reducing agent in a galvanic cell?

Answer: The metal at the anode. Undergoes oxidation, losing electrons to external circuit.

Flashcard 11: What happens to the mass of the cathode in a galvanic cell during operation?

Answer: It increases. Metal ions deposit as reduction occurs.

Flashcard 12: What occurs at the cathode in a galvanic cell?

Answer: Reduction. Electrons are gained, making cathode the electron destination.

Flashcard 13: What occurs at the cathode in a galvanic cell?

Answer: Reduction. Electrons are gained, making cathode the electron destination.

Flashcard 14: What occurs at the anode in a galvanic cell?

Answer: Oxidation. Electrons are lost, making anode the source of electrons.

Flashcard 15: State the direction of electron flow in an electrolytic cell.

Answer: From cathode to anode. External power source forces electrons from cathode to anode.

Flashcard 16: What is a characteristic of a rechargeable battery in terms of cell type?

Answer: Can act as both galvanic and electrolytic cell. Charging and discharging involve opposite spontaneity directions.

Flashcard 17: What is the standard cell potential $(E^\theta)$ for a galvanic cell?

Answer: Positive. Spontaneous reactions have positive cell potentials.

Flashcard 18: State the relationship between Gibbs free energy and cell potential.

Answer: $\Delta G = -nFE_{cell}$. Links thermodynamic favorability to electrochemical potential.

Flashcard 19: Find the cell potential given $E_{cathode} = 0.80$ V and $E_{anode} = 0.40$ V.

Answer: $0.40$ V. Using $E_{cell} = E_{cathode} - E_{anode} = 0.80 - 0.40$.

Flashcard 20: What occurs at the cathode in an electrolytic cell?

Answer: Reduction. Reduction still occurs at cathode regardless of cell type.

Flashcard 21: What is the role of a porous disk in a galvanic cell?

Answer: To allow ion exchange while preventing mixing. Similar to salt bridge but uses physical barrier.

Flashcard 22: Identify the charge of the anode in an electrolytic cell.

Answer: Positive. Connected to positive terminal of external power source.

Flashcard 23: State the effect of temperature on cell potential.

Answer: Cell potential generally decreases with increasing temperature. Higher temperature typically reduces driving force for reaction.

Flashcard 24: Define Faraday's constant.

Answer: The charge of one mole of electrons, approximately 96485 C/mol. Fundamental constant relating charge to moles of electrons.

Flashcard 25: What is the main difference between galvanic and electrolytic cells?

Answer: Galvanic cells are spontaneous; electrolytic cells are non-spontaneous. Spontaneity determines whether external power is needed.

Flashcard 26: State the effect of temperature on cell potential.

Answer: Cell potential generally decreases with increasing temperature. Higher temperature typically reduces driving force for reaction.

Flashcard 27: What is the purpose of an external circuit in a galvanic cell?

Answer: To allow electron flow. Completes circuit for electron movement between electrodes.

Flashcard 28: What is the unit of standard cell potential?

Answer: Volts (V). Standard unit for electrical potential difference.

Flashcard 29: What happens to the mass of the anode in a galvanic cell during operation?

Answer: It decreases. Metal atoms leave electrode as oxidation occurs.

Flashcard 30: What is the standard cell potential $(E^\theta)$ for a galvanic cell?

Answer: Positive. Spontaneous reactions have positive cell potentials.

Flashcard 31: What is the role of the salt bridge in a galvanic cell?

Answer: To maintain electrical neutrality. Allows ion migration to balance charge as reactions proceed.

Flashcard 32: What is the standard cell potential $(E^\theta)$ for an electrolytic cell?

Answer: Negative. Non-spontaneous reactions have negative cell potentials.

Flashcard 33: State the relationship between Gibbs free energy and cell potential.

Answer: $\Delta G = -nFE_{cell}$. Links thermodynamic favorability to electrochemical potential.

Flashcard 34: Identify the charge of the anode in an electrolytic cell.

Answer: Positive. Connected to positive terminal of external power source.

Flashcard 35: What is the unit of standard cell potential?

Answer: Volts (V). Standard unit for electrical potential difference.

Flashcard 36: What is the primary function of a galvanic cell?

Answer: To convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Spontaneous redox reactions drive electron flow through external circuit.

Flashcard 37: What is the criterion for a reaction to be spontaneous in terms of $\Delta G$?

Answer: $\Delta G < 0$. Negative free energy indicates thermodynamically favorable process.

Flashcard 38: What is the role of the salt bridge in a galvanic cell?

Answer: To maintain electrical neutrality. Allows ion migration to balance charge as reactions proceed.

Flashcard 39: Identify the standard conditions for measuring cell potential.

Answer: 1 M concentration, 1 atm pressure, 25°C temperature. Standard state conditions for reliable potential measurements.

Flashcard 40: What happens to the mass of the anode in a galvanic cell during operation?

Answer: It decreases. Metal atoms leave electrode as oxidation occurs.

Flashcard 41: What is the role of inert electrodes like platinum?

Answer: To conduct electrons without participating in the reaction. Provide surface for electron transfer without reacting.

Flashcard 42: What happens to the mass of the anode in a galvanic cell during operation?

Answer: It decreases. Metal atoms leave electrode as oxidation occurs.

Flashcard 43: What occurs at the anode in an electrolytic cell?

Answer: Oxidation. Oxidation still occurs at anode regardless of cell type.

Flashcard 44: What is the formula for the cell potential of a galvanic cell?

Answer: $E_{cell} = E_{cathode} - E_{anode}$. Standard reduction potential difference between electrodes.

Flashcard 45: Which metal acts as a reducing agent in a galvanic cell?

Answer: The metal at the anode. Undergoes oxidation, losing electrons to external circuit.

Flashcard 46: What occurs at the cathode in a galvanic cell?

Answer: Reduction. Electrons are gained, making cathode the electron destination.

Flashcard 47: What occurs at the cathode in an electrolytic cell?

Answer: Reduction. Reduction still occurs at cathode regardless of cell type.

Flashcard 48: What is the primary function of a galvanic cell?

Answer: To convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Spontaneous redox reactions drive electron flow through external circuit.

Flashcard 49: What is the criterion for a reaction to be spontaneous in terms of $\Delta G$?

Answer: $\Delta G < 0$. Negative free energy indicates thermodynamically favorable process.

Flashcard 50: What does a positive cell potential indicate?

Answer: The reaction is spontaneous. Reaction proceeds naturally without external energy input.

Flashcard 51: Identify the charge of the cathode in an electrolytic cell.

Answer: Negative. Connected to negative terminal of external power source.

Flashcard 52: Identify the charge of the anode in a galvanic cell.

Answer: Negative. Loses electrons during oxidation, creating electron excess.

Flashcard 53: Calculate the equilibrium constant $K$ given $E^\theta = 0.0592$ V and $n = 1$.

Answer: $K = 10$. Using $E^\theta = \frac{0.0592}{n} \log K$ with $n=1$.

Flashcard 54: Calculate the equilibrium constant $K$ given $E^\theta = 0.0592$ V and $n = 1$.

Answer: $K = 10$. Using $E^\theta = \frac{0.0592}{n} \log K$ with $n=1$.

Flashcard 55: State the Nernst equation.

Answer: $E = E^\theta - \frac{RT}{nF} \ln Q$. Accounts for concentration effects on cell potential.

Flashcard 56: What is the primary function of a galvanic cell?

Answer: To convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Spontaneous redox reactions drive electron flow through external circuit.

Flashcard 57: What is the purpose of an external circuit in a galvanic cell?

Answer: To allow electron flow. Completes circuit for electron movement between electrodes.

Flashcard 58: Which metal acts as a reducing agent in a galvanic cell?

Answer: The metal at the anode. Undergoes oxidation, losing electrons to external circuit.

Flashcard 59: State the effect of temperature on cell potential.

Answer: Cell potential generally decreases with increasing temperature. Higher temperature typically reduces driving force for reaction.

Flashcard 60: State the function of a power source in an electrolytic cell.

Answer: To provide energy for non-spontaneous reactions. Overcomes negative cell potential of non-spontaneous reactions.

Flashcard 61: What happens to the mass of the anode in a galvanic cell during operation?

Answer: It decreases. Metal atoms leave electrode as oxidation occurs.

Flashcard 62: Identify the charge of the cathode in a galvanic cell.

Answer: Positive. Gains electrons during reduction, creating electron deficiency.

Flashcard 63: What occurs at the anode in a galvanic cell?

Answer: Oxidation. Electrons are lost, making anode the source of electrons.

Flashcard 64: What is the formula for the cell potential of a galvanic cell?

Answer: $E_{cell} = E_{cathode} - E_{anode}$. Standard reduction potential difference between electrodes.

Flashcard 65: Calculate $\Delta G$ for a cell with $n=2$, $F=96485$ C/mol, and $E_{cell}=1.1$ V.

Answer: $-212.67$ kJ/mol. Using $\Delta G = -nFE = -(2)(96485)(1.1)$.

Flashcard 66: What is the primary function of an electrolytic cell?

Answer: To convert electrical energy into chemical energy. External power source drives non-spontaneous redox reactions.

Flashcard 67: What is a characteristic of a rechargeable battery in terms of cell type?

Answer: Can act as both galvanic and electrolytic cell. Charging and discharging involve opposite spontaneity directions.

Flashcard 68: State the effect of temperature on cell potential.

Answer: Cell potential generally decreases with increasing temperature. Higher temperature typically reduces driving force for reaction.

Flashcard 69: What is the role of the salt bridge in a galvanic cell?

Answer: To maintain electrical neutrality. Allows ion migration to balance charge as reactions proceed.

Flashcard 70: What is the standard cell potential $(E^\theta)$ for a galvanic cell?

Answer: Positive. Spontaneous reactions have positive cell potentials.

Flashcard 71: State the direction of electron flow in a galvanic cell.

Answer: From anode to cathode. Electrons flow from negative anode to positive cathode.

Flashcard 72: What occurs at the cathode in an electrolytic cell?

Answer: Reduction. Reduction still occurs at cathode regardless of cell type.

Flashcard 73: What is the primary function of a galvanic cell?

Answer: To convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Spontaneous redox reactions drive electron flow through external circuit.

Flashcard 74: What occurs at the cathode in a galvanic cell?

Answer: Reduction. Electrons are gained, making cathode the electron destination.

Flashcard 75: Identify the charge of the anode in a galvanic cell.

Answer: Negative. Loses electrons during oxidation, creating electron excess.

Flashcard 76: Identify the charge of the anode in a galvanic cell.

Answer: Negative. Loses electrons during oxidation, creating electron excess.

Flashcard 77: State the function of a power source in an electrolytic cell.

Answer: To provide energy for non-spontaneous reactions. Overcomes negative cell potential of non-spontaneous reactions.

Flashcard 78: What does a negative cell potential indicate?

Answer: The reaction is non-spontaneous. External energy required to drive the reaction forward.

Flashcard 79: Which metal acts as a reducing agent in a galvanic cell?

Answer: The metal at the anode. Undergoes oxidation, losing electrons to external circuit.

Flashcard 80: What is the standard cell potential $(E^\theta)$ for a galvanic cell?

Answer: Positive. Spontaneous reactions have positive cell potentials.

Flashcard 81: What is the primary function of an electrolytic cell?

Answer: To convert electrical energy into chemical energy. External power source drives non-spontaneous redox reactions.

Flashcard 82: What is the significance of the equilibrium constant $K$ in electrochemistry?

Answer: Relates to cell potential by $E^\theta = \frac{RT}{nF} \ln K$. Large $K$ indicates favorable reaction with positive $E^\theta$.

Flashcard 83: What happens to the mass of the cathode in a galvanic cell during operation?

Answer: It increases. Metal ions deposit as reduction occurs.

Flashcard 84: Identify the standard conditions for measuring cell potential.

Answer: 1 M concentration, 1 atm pressure, 25°C temperature. Standard state conditions for reliable potential measurements.

Flashcard 85: What occurs at the cathode in an electrolytic cell?

Answer: Reduction. Reduction still occurs at cathode regardless of cell type.