Question

Zn+CuSO4→ZnSO4+Cu Zinc (Zn) reacts with copper sulfate (CuSO4) to form zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) and copper (Cu). A classmate tells you this is a reaction in a galvanic cell. In three to five sentences, describe how you know your classmate is correct?

Answer 1

The equation is a redox reaction: Zn is oxidized to Zn2+ (Zn → Zn2+ + 2e−) and Cu2+ is reduced to Cu (Cu2+ + 2e− → Cu), so electrons flow from zinc to copper. In a galvanic cell those half‑reactions occur at separate electrodes (Zn electrode = anode, Cu electrode = cathode) with the electrons moving through an external circuit to do electrical work and ions moving through a salt bridge to maintain charge balance. Using standard potentials, E°cell = E°(Cu2+/Cu) − E°(Zn2+/Zn) = +0.34 − (−0.76) = +1.10 V, which is positive, confirming the reaction is spontaneous and can generate electricity.