Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: magicalatom on February 10, 2016, 12:07:35 PM

Title: What is the general term for an apparatus that contains two solutions with elect
Post by: magicalatom on February 10, 2016, 12:07:35 PM

What is the general term for an apparatus that contains two solutions with electrodes in separate compartments connected by a wire and salt bridge?

A. electrolytic cell
B. voltaic cell
C. battery
D. electrochemical
E. dry cell


Answer is D. but isn't B a electrochemical cell too?

voltaic/galvanic and electrochemical all the same terms, yes?

I used this site for clarification but still confused:
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Core/Analytical_Chemistry/Electrochemistry/Electrolytic_Cells

electrolytic is the other term by itself. 

Can someone please clarify?  I have web searched this too still can't get a clear idea and why is it choice D?

Is electrochemical a general term which voltaic/galvanic fall underneath it so the answer choice was looking for an overall umbrella term which was choice D.

Any ideas?

Title: Re: What is the general term for an apparatus that contains two solutions with elect
Post by: magicalatom on February 10, 2016, 02:16:03 PM

I was correct electrochemical includes voltaic/galvanic and electrolytic so electrochemical is an unmbrella term for both.

Verified here:
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Core/Analytical_Chemistry/Electrochemistry/Basics_of_Electrochemistry/Electrochemical_Cells

Title: Re: What is the general term for an apparatus that contains two solutions with elect
Post by: Borek on February 11, 2016, 03:29:27 AM

Quote from: magicalatom on February 10, 2016, 12:07:35 PM

Answer is D. but isn't B a electrochemical cell too?

Let me put it this way: every voltaic cell is an electrochemical device, but not every electrochemical device is a voltaic cell.