A voltaic cell, also known as a galvanic cell, is an electrochemical cell that generates electricity through spontaneous redox reactions. Let’s delve into the details:

1. Definition:

   • A voltaic cell is an arrangement where electrons are transferred from one species to another during a redox reaction.
   • If the redox reaction is spontaneous, it releases energy, which can be harnessed to perform useful work.

2. Half-Reactions:

   • To create a voltaic cell, we split the redox reaction into two separate half-reactions:
     • Oxidation: In one half-cell, the species gets oxidized (loses electrons).
     • Reduction: In the other half-cell, the species gets reduced (gains electrons).

3. Components of a Voltaic Cell:

   • A voltaic cell consists of:
     • Two half-cells: Each containing an electrode (a metal strip) immersed in a solution with metal ions (M^n+).
     • Wire: Connects the two half-cells, allowing electrons to flow.
     • Salt bridge: Maintains charge balance by allowing ions to move between the half-cells.

4. Energy Generation:

   • Consider the reaction of solid copper (Cu(s)) in a silver nitrate solution (AgNO₃(s)):
     • 2Ag⁺(aq) + Cu(s) ⇋ Cu²⁺(aq) + 2Ag(s)
   • When a copper electrode is placed in the silver nitrate solution, energy is released as heat.
   • To harness this energy, we separate the half-reactions and create a voltaic cell.

5. Functionality:

   • A voltaic cell uses spontaneous redox reactions to generate electricity.
   • It converts chemical energy into electrical energy, making it useful for batteries and other applications.