Question

In an experimental setup for the measurement of EMF of a half cell using a reference electrode and a salt bridge,when the salt bridge
is removed,the voltage
A)Does not change
B)Increases to maximum
C)Decreases half the value
D)Drops to 0

Answer 1

@chmvijay @yrelhan4

Answer 2

do you know what is the function of salt bridge :) @DLS

Answer 3

To maintain ionic balance and stuff

Answer 4

complete the circuit etc

Answer 5

if circuit is incomplete then what you think it will happen ?

Answer 6

I want to clarify one thing,are we talking about voltage of battery?

Answer 7

yaa voltage of battery

Answer 8

Why will it change in that case?I thought it should be A originally..

Answer 9

im not sure what should happen :/

Answer 10

it drops to 0

Answer 11

why?how?

Answer 12

it is sure that it drops to zero !!but still thinking how it can be like that !!really u have posted a good question :)

Answer 13

thanks :P

Answer 14

@JFraser can you help in this

Answer 15

if the salt bridge helps to maintain charge balance (and it does), and completes the circuit (and it does), what happens to the voltage when a circuit is open?

it drops to zero.

charge can't flow if the path isn't closed.

Answer 16

mean the voltage depends upon the flow of electrons or charges something like that

Answer 17

V cant be 0 but..potential difference can be 0 but battery will still have some voltage in it.It is a different thing that we will get 0 if we measure since the circuit is incomplete,how can battery become null or something

Answer 18

the potential difference between the half-cells won't change, but the cell will not function as a battery. So, you could argue that the V stays the same, it's the current that drops to zero

Answer 19

yaaa voltage and potential differences are two different species i agree

Answer 20

But experimental proofs has shown that the voltage drops to zero :)

Answer 21

can you see this link
Here you can see the importance of the salt bridge. In the top picture, the salt bridge has been removed and and the voltage reading is zero showing the there is no current flowing. In the bottom picture, the salt bridge is replaced and the voltmeter again shows a reading.

http://dl.clackamas.cc.or.us/ch105-09/voltaic.htm

Answer 22

@JFraser as you told V stays the same, it's the current that drops to zero !!is right!!

Answer 23

still I think,as far as I have studied,when the circuit is just incomplete there is some potential difference for sure..

Answer 24

voltmeter is instrument which measures the quantity of electricity !!right then current drops to zero but what happens to voltage is still a question :)

Answer 25

:/