What will happen if a student measures the voltage of a voltaic cell where the student mixed the two half-cells together without separating them with a salt bridge? The student will probably experience an electrical shock. The reaction will happen much more rapidly so register a higher voltage. No reaction will occur without a salt bridge. No voltage will be recorded.

The electrochemical cell involves the generation of electricity by the appropriate cell reactions that occur in the two half cells. In a half cell, the metal electrode is placed in its aqueous solution. The half cell in which oxidation of the metal happens to furnish the metal cations and moves into the solution is the anode. M(s)→Mn++ne- (anode) The half cell in which reduction of the metal ions in the solution happens by accepting the electrons and deposited on the electrode is termed as the cathode. Mn++ne-→M(s) (cathode) The two half cells are separated by a salt bridge. The salt bridge function as a connecting medium between the two half cells and prevents the excessive accumulation of the charges at the respective electrodes. The composition of the salt bridge is a filter paper or a porous glass tube filled with potassium nitrate or sodium chloride. The key function of the salt bridge is to provide the smooth passage of the charge between the two half cells and to prevent unwanted side reactions. If the salt bridge between the two half cells is removed and the two half cells are combined together based on the cell potential two possibilities can be observed. If the net cell potential is low, the sudden chemical reaction will occur leads to the generation of the voltage. When the cell potential is quite large, the sudden redox reaction leads to the generation of the electrical shock to the student.

Answered: What will happen if a student measures…

Chemistry

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Chapter1: Chemical Foundations

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	The student will probably experience an electrical shock.
	The reaction will happen much more rapidly so register a higher voltage.
	No reaction will occur without a salt bridge.
	No voltage will be recorded.