Question

What is the role of a salt bridge?

Answer 1

Salt bridge: A salt bridge consists of a glass U-tube containing semi-solid paste of either KCl, KNO₃ , etc which connects two half cells.

Role of salt bridge:

• A salt bridge's primary role is to help in the maintenance of electrical neutrality.
• If salt bridges are not present used, the reaction will most likely continue and the solution in half electrodes will accumulate a negative charge. Similarly, electrodes in the other half would accumulate a positive charge.
• As a result, the reaction will stop and no electricity will be generated.