In a voltaic cell, a zinc electrode in a zinc sulfate solution is one half- cell, and a silver electrode in a silver nitrate solution is the other half- cell. In this cell, when the circuit is completed, electrons are given up by the ________.

• In a voltaic cell, a zinc electrode in a zinc sulfate solution is one half- cell, and a silver electrode in a silver nitrate solution is the other half- cell. In this cell, when the circuit is completed, electrons are given up by the silver (silver electrode)

Explanation:

• In the silver nitrate solution, silver will be deposited on whatever material the cathode is made up of because at the node silver will go into solution as silver ions leaving electrons behind on the anode.
• The net change is a transfer of silver from anode to cathode. On the other half cell of zinc sulphate, at the cathode the zinc ions will pick up electrons from cathode to form zinc ions.

Cathode = Zn2+ + 2e- ------- Zn

Anode = Ag ---------- Ag+ + e-