Question

I'm trying to wrap my head around the workings of the salt bridge used in a Galvanic cell. The salt is gelified so it does not fall into the solution, or something like a porous disc or filter paper is used instead. Anions flow from the cathode half cell to the anode half cell via the salt bridge to maintain charge neutrality.

If different anions are used in each half cell, how are anions transferred via the salt bridge? Do they just float around after arriving at the solution with the anode in it?

Wikipedia links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_bridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galv

Answer 1

Broken link. Should be:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_cell

Answer 2

The salt bridge contains both cations and anions. As the reaction progresses some of these ions migrate through the porous disc to keep charge neutrality, it is not anions from the other solution.

Answer 3

I had imagined a system where electrons are poured from the anode bucket to the cathode bucket while anions are poured from the cathode bucket to the anode bucket. Does this mean ions are leeched from the salt bridge into both buckets? Presumably the ion bridge itself maintains charge neutrality during this process?

Answer 4

Salt bridge is there to reduce junction potential!!!!!
for more read advanced chemistry book by phillip mathew!!!!!