A voltaic cell consists of two half-cells:
Zinc metal immersed in a 1 M solution of ZnCl₂ and copper immersed in a 1M solution of CuSO₄. The copper electrode is positive. What is the spontaneous chemical reaction that occurs in this cell?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The spontaneous reaction in the cell is the one that moves electrons from the zinc electrode (anode) to the copper electrode (cathode). The half-reactions are:
Zn → Zn2+ + 2e- (anode)
Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu (cathode)
By combining these half-reactions, we get the overall reaction:
Zn (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Cu (s)
or 
Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)
This reaction matches option B.

A Voltaic Cell Consists of Two Half-Cells