CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

What does the salt bridge do in the cell diagram?

The salt bridge keeps the two solutions neutral so the systems can exchange electrons. I hope this helps :)

To add on, without the salt bridge, the reaction would quickly reach equilibrium and come to a halt. In this sense, the salt bridge allows the flow of ions to maintain the charges needed for electron transfer to continue.

Abigail Menchaca_1H wrote:What does the salt bridge do in the cell diagram?

Just to add on to what other people have said, it is a way to make sure that the charges of the two solutions in the cell are neutral. For example, if you had copper being oxidized to Cu 2+ in one beaker, the anions would move towards that beaker in the salt bridge.

It keeps the 2 solutions neutral so electrons can continue transferring

charleejohnson1L wrote:The salt bridge keeps the two solutions neutral so the systems can exchange electrons. I hope this helps :)

it allows for the flow of ions as well

The salt bridge neutralizes both solutions in a sense, so they don't quickly reach equilibrium. By "neutralizing," I mean that if a cation was being produced in one solution, the anion portion of the salt in the salt bridge would neutralize this positive charge.