PPT Slide

Electrochemical Cells

• There are two types of electrochemical cells.

• They are based on the general thermodynamic nature of the reaction, I.e.,the Gibbs Free Energy, _G.

1) A voltaic cell (or galvanic cell) uses a spontaneous reaction to generate electrical energy, (_G < 0). The reaction is the system. It does work on the surroundings. All batteries contain one or more voltaic cells.


2) An electrolytic cell uses electrical energy to drive a nonspontaneous reaction (_G > 0), the surroundings do work on the reacting system.

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