Cell Diagrams [ENDORSED]

[Abigail Yap 2K]

What is the purpose of inert electrodes in galvanic cells? (i.e. Pt)

Thanks!

[Andy Nguyen 1A]

These species that are added to the ends of the cell diagrams, like Pt, are inert electrodes that simply act as a way to transport the electrons.

[Guangyu Li 2J]

Inert species allow the electrons transportation. In addition, in the cell diagrams, inert species should always be in the outermost locations. It is not usually involved in the calculations.

Hope this helps!

[TarynLane2J]

Inert species such as platinum are usually used as electrodes when the species in the redox reaction are nonmetal and aren't able to transport electrodes. But if the species in the redox reaction is already a conductor such as copper or some other metal, then you don't need to add a platinum electrode.

[Christina Bedrosian 1B]

they are inert so that they will not change the reaction but will act as electron transporters to allow the redox reaction to occur

[William Satyadi 2A]

Inert electrodes like Pt are needed for some cells which don't have conducting ions. These electrodes allow for electron transfer without affecting the reaction.

[Angel Gomez 1K]

If you notice, the inert electrodes are usually denoted as solids by (s), as most metals are solid at STP, and they have conductive properties, which is why they're useful as inert electrodes. There are exceptions, though. For ex, mercury is a liquid at STP, so it'd be written as Hg(l) in the cell diagram.

[kaushalrao2H]

electrodes have to be solid, and if none of the species in a reduction or oxidation reaction are solid (such as when two Fe species have different oxidation numbers but are both in aqueous form), then there must be an inert conductor to relay electrons.