What is the purpose of having a salt bridge in a galvanic cell and why is one needed?

Question

sweetburger · Answer

The salt bridge is important as it is in place to maintain the specific charge balance that is in place from being changed by the flow of electrons from one cell to the other.

mayankdevnani · Answer

For more information,refer to this link :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_bridge

greatlife44 · Answer

So if the charge balance is not maintained, the flow of current stops?

greatlife44 · Answer

hey @sweetburger so essentially electrons go from the species that's oxidized to the species that's reduced. this creates like the flow of current. so I get this aspect. so essentially the charge is building up on one side.

so to balance out the charge we need to have a salt bridge. so without the salt bridge what would happen would our electrochemical cell just stop working?

mayankdevnani · Answer

yup ! if the charge is not balanced in the reaction,then there is no flow of current