Electrochemical cell

[globy321]

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is an electrochemical cell the same as a galvanic cell or an electrolytic cell?

 

[V5RED]

Galvanic/Voltaic cells use the energy of a chemical reaction to generate a current.

Electrolytic cells use the energy of a current to generate a chemical reaction.

Electrochemical cell is just a general term for cells involving chemical reactions and electrical currents.

 

[globy321]

Galvanic/Voltaic cells use the energy of a chemical reaction to generate a current.

Electrolytic cells use the energy of a current to generate a chemical reaction.

Electrochemical cell is just a general term for cells involving chemical reactions and electrical currents.

Where does reduction and oxidation take place in a electrochemical cell?
Also, how does electrical work drive an electrochemical reaction?

 

[V5RED]

Where does reduction and oxidation take place in a electrochemical cell?
Also, how does electrical work drive an electrochemical reaction?

Anode=oxidation
Cathode=reduction

Redox reactions are due to the transfer of electrons. In a galvanic cell, this is spontaneous. In an electrolytic cell, a battery is used to force electrons to flow in a direction that would be otherwise unfavorable.

 

[globy321]

Anode=oxidation
Cathode=reduction

Redox reactions are due to the transfer of electrons. In a galvanic cell, this is spontaneous. In an electrolytic cell, a battery is used to force electrons to flow in a direction that would be otherwise unfavorable.

In a galvanic cell, oxidation takes place at the anode and reduction takes place at the cathode. Is this the same for electrolytic cell?

 

[V5RED]

In a galvanic cell, oxidation takes place at the anode and reduction takes place at the cathode. Is this the same for electrolytic cell?

Anode is just a name for the electrode at which oxidation occurs, and cathode is just a name for the electrode at which reduction occurs.

The type of cell is irrelevant.

 

[karafox]

Just chiming in. One useful mnemonic is RED CAT and AN OX (reduction at cathode and oxidation at anode, respectively).

 

[V5RED]

Just chiming in. One useful mnemonic is RED CAT and AN OX (reduction at cathode and oxidation at anode, respectively).

That works, but I prefer just remembering that Oxidation and Anode both start with vowels and Reduction and Cathode both start with consonants.

Also, for remembering what oxidation and reduction mean, I use LEO the lion says GER.
Lose Electrons Oxidize
Gain Electrons Reduce

 

[shaboobly]

i agree with everything said above.

also note:
galvanic has a -deltaG, spontaneous. electrolytic has +deltaG, non spontaneous, as v5red mentioned.