Question about concentration cell

[EMT313]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Is a concentration cell a galvanic cell (meaning its spontaneous and anode is negative) or a electrolytic cell (meaning its non-spontaneous and its anode is positive)?

 

[Cawolf]

A galvanic cell with the anode being in low concentration and the cathode being in high concentration.

 

[justadream]

@Cawolf

Theoretically, could you have an electrolytic concentration cell?

 

[Cawolf]

I guess so? I am not really sure what the point would be though.

I thought about it and it seems like if you applied a voltage greater than the E value of the reverse reaction then you could increase the concentration in the higher concentration cell.

But why use electrical energy to produce a gradient that already exists?

 

[justadream]

@Cawolf
Why not? Increasing the gradient can do work (e.g., Oxidative Phosphorylation uses a gradient)

 

[Cawolf]

True. I was just saying I haven't heard of it before - but it may be possible.