In redox reactions, electrons are transferred from one species to another. If the reaction is spontaneous, energy is released, which can then be used to do useful work. To harness this energy, the reaction must be split into two separate half reactions: the oxidation and reduction reactions. The reactions are put into two different containers and a wire is used to drive the electrons from one side to the other. In doing so, a Voltaic/ Galvanic Cell is created.

Introduction

When a redox reaction takes place, electrons are transferred from one species to the other.  If the reaction is spontaneous, energy is released, which can be used to do work. Consider the reaction of a solid copper (Cu_(s)) in a silver nitrate solution (AgNO_3(s)).

2Ag⁺_(aq) + Cu_(s) ?  Cu²⁺_(aq) + 2Ag_(s)

The AgNO_3(s) will dissociate to produce Ag⁺_(aq) ions and NO­­­₃^-_(aq) ions. The NO₃^-_(aq) ions can be ignored since they are spectator ions and do not participate in the reaction. In this reaction, a copper electrode is placed into a solution containing silver ions. The Ag⁺_(aq) will readily oxidize Cu_(s) resulting in Cu²⁺_(aq), while reducing itself to Ag_(s).

This reaction releases energy. When the copper electrode solid is placed directly into a silver nitrate solution, however, the energy is lost as heat and cannot be used to do work. In order to harness this energy and use it do useful work, we must split the reaction into two separate half reactions; The oxidation and reduction reactions. A wire connects the two reactions and allows electrons to flow from one side to the other. In doing so, we have created a Voltaic/ Galvanic Cell.

Voltaic Cells

A Voltaic Cell (also known as a Galvanic Cell) is an electrochemical cell that uses spontaneous redox reactions to generate electricity. It consists of two separate half-cells. A half-cell is composed of an electrode (a strip of metal, M) within a solution containing Mⁿ⁺ ions in which M is any arbitrary metal. The two half cells are linked together by a wire running from one electrode to the other. A salt bridge also connects to the half cells. The functions of these parts are discussed below. 

Figure 1 Voltaic Cell

Half Cells

Half of the redox reaction occurs at each half cell. Therefore, we can say that in each half-cell a half-reaction is taking place. When the two halves are linked together with a wire and a salt bridge, an electrochemical cell is created.

Electrodes

An electrode is strip of metal on which the reaction takes place. In a voltaic cell, the oxidation and reduction of metals occurs at the electrodes. There are two electrodes in a voltaic cell, one in each half-cell. The cathode is where reduction takes place and oxidation takes place at the anode.

Through electrochemistry, these reactions are reacting upon metal surfaces, or electrodes. An oxidation-reduction equilibrium is established between the metal and the substances in solution. When electrodes are immersed in a solution containing ions of the same metal, it is called a half-cell. Electrolytes are ions in solution, usually fluid, that conducts electricity through ionic conduction. Two possible interactions can occur between the metal atoms on the electrode and the ion solutions.

1. Metal ion Mⁿ⁺ from the solution may collide with the electrode, gaining "n" electrons from it, and convert to metal atoms. This means that the ions are reduced.
2. Metal atom on the surface may lose "n" electrons to the electrode and enter the solution as the ion Mⁿ⁺ meaning that the metal atoms are oxidized.

When an electrode is oxidized in a solution, it is called an anode and when an electrode is reduced in solution. it is called a cathode.

Anode

The anode is where the oxidation reaction takes place. In other words, this is where the metal loses electrons. In the reaction above, the anode is the Cu(s) since it increases in oxidation state from 0 to +2.

Cathode

The cathode is where the reduction reaction takes place. This is where the metal electrode gains electrons. Referring back to the equation above, the cathode is the Ag(s) as it decreases in oxidation state from +1 to 0. 

Remembering Oxidation and Reduction

When it comes to redox reactions, it is important to understand what it means for a metal to be “oxidized” or “reduced”. An easy way to do this is to remember the phrase “OIL RIG”.

OIL = Oxidization is Loss (of e^-)

RIG = Reduction is Gain (of e^-)

In the case of the example above Ag⁺(aq) gains an electron meaning it is reduced. Cu(s) loses two electrons thus it is oxidized.

Salt Bridge

The salt bridge is a vital component of any voltaic cell. It is a tube filled with an electrolyte solution such as KNO_3(s) or KCl_(s). The purpose of the salt bridge is to keep the solutions electrically neutral and allow the free flow of ions from one cell to another. Without the salt bridge, positive and negative charges will build up around the electrodes causing the reaction to stop.

Flow of Electrons

Electrons always flow from the anode to the cathode or from the oxidation half cell to the reduction half cell. In terms of E^ocell of the half reactions, the electrons will flow from the more negative half reaction to the more positive half reaction.

Cell Diagram

A cell diagram is a representation of an electrochemical cell. The figure below illustrates a cell diagram for the voltaic shown in Figure 1 above.

Figure 2 Cell Diagram

When drawing a cell diagram, we follow the following conventions. The anode is always placed on the left side, and the cathode is placed on the right side. The salt bridge is represented by double vertical lines (||).  The difference in the phase of an element is represented by a single vertical line (|), while changes in oxidation states are represented by commas (,).

Constructing a Cell Diagram

When asked to construct a cell diagram follow these simple instructions.

Consider the following reaction:

2Ag⁺_(aq) + Cu_(s) ? Cu²⁺_(aq) + 2Ag_(s)

Step 1: Write the two half-reactions.

Ag⁺(aq) + e^- ? Ag_(s)

Cu_(s) ? Cu²⁺_(aq) + 2e^-

Step 2: Determine the cathode and anode.

Anode: Cu_(s) ? Cu²⁺_(aq) + 2e-     

Cathode: Ag⁺(aq) + e^- ? Ag(s)

Cu_(s) is losing electrons thus being oxidized. Oxidation happens at the anode. Ag⁺ is gaining electrons thus is being reduced. Reduction happens at the cathode.

Step 3: Construct the Diagram.

Cu_(s) | Cu²⁺_(aq) || Ag⁺_(aq) | Ag(s)

The anode always goes on the left and cathode on the right. Separate changes in phase by | and indicate the the salt bridge with ||.