AP Chemistry Flashcards: Galvanic (Voltaic) and Electrolytic Cells
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
Electrolytic Cell
A type of electrochemical cell that uses an external power source to drive a thermodynamically unfavored reaction.
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Electrolytic Cell
A type of electrochemical cell that uses an external power source to drive a thermodynamically unfavored reaction.
How do the physical components of an electrochemical cell relate to its overall operation?
Each component, such as the electrodes and salt bridge, plays a specific role that dictates the cell's overall operational principles, including electron flow and reaction locations.
What is the fundamental difference between a galvanic cell and an electrolytic cell?
Galvanic (voltaic) cells involve a thermodynamically favored reaction, whereas electrolytic cells involve a thermodynamically unfavored reaction.
Galvanic (Voltaic) Cell
A type of electrochemical cell that involves a thermodynamically favored reaction to produce electrical energy.
If you observe a diagram of a cell where a thermodynamically unfavored reaction is occurring, what type of cell is it?
This would be an electrolytic cell, as it is defined by involving a thermodynamically unfavored reaction.
What information can be determined from a visual representation of an electrochemical cell?
Visual representations of electrochemical cells are used to identify the specific half-reactions occurring at each electrode and the direction of electron or current flow.
Where does reduction occur in an electrochemical cell?
For all electrochemical cells, both galvanic and electrolytic, reduction occurs at the cathode.
Where does oxidation occur in an electrochemical cell?
For all electrochemical cells, both galvanic and electrolytic, oxidation occurs at the anode.
What are the three essential physical components of an electrochemical cell?
The essential components of an electrochemical cell are the electrodes, the half-cell solutions, and the salt bridge.
At what two levels can the operation of an electrochemical cell be described?
A cell's operation can be described macroscopically, observing phenomena like mass change, and particulately, by considering the flow of individual electrons.