The function of the salt bridge in a galvanic cell is to
- A. allow electrons to pass between the two solutions
- B. complete the circuit by allowing ions to migrate and keeping both solutions electrically neutral
- C. prevent the cell from producing any current
- D. act as a catalyst for the reaction
Explanation
As the cell runs, positive charge builds up in one half cell and negative charge in the other, which would stop the reaction almost immediately, so ions flow through the bridge to cancel this build up. Electrons travel through the external wire, not through the bridge, which is the point of the first distractor. A saturated potassium chloride or potassium nitrate solution is normally used because its ions move at similar rates.
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