Question

State whether the following statement is True or False:
In the galvanic (voltaic) cell, the positive electrode is called the cathode, and the negative electrode is called an anode.
A.True
B.False

Answer 1

We have to know that the voltaic cell or galvanic cell is an electrochemical cell that is used to generate electrical energy from a chemical reaction or, more specifically, a spontaneous redox reaction. It is named after the two scientists, Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta.

Complete answer:
We must have to remember that this electrochemical cell generally comprises two half cells connected with a salt bridge. Each cell consists of a metal electrode dipped in an electrolyte solution. Thus, a galvanic cell has two conductive electrodes: an anode that is a negatively charged electrode where oxidation occurs and a cathode that is a positively charged electrode where reduction occurs.
The metal in the anode electrode undergoes oxidation and attains a positive oxidation state, or in other words, it will lose electrons to become cations. These electrons are carried through the salt bridge towards the cathode. At the cathode electrode, the metal ions in the electrolytic solution will accept the electrons to get reduced, and metal gets deposited at the cathode. Thus, due to the potential difference between anode and cathode, the electrons flow from anode (negative) to cathode (positive) through the external circuit to produce electrical energy.
Therefore, the given statement is True.

Note:
Students often get confused with a galvanic cell with an electrolytic cell. But electrolytic cells derive non-spontaneous chemical reactions by applying electric energy, which is different from a galvanic cell. Also, anode and cathode charges are different in both cases. The cathode is negatively charged, and the anode is positively charged in an electrolytic cell.