Salt bridge

An electrochemical cell (resembling a Daniell cell) with a filter paper salt bridge. The paper has been soaked with a Potassium nitrate solution.

A salt bridge or ion bridge, in electrochemistry, is a laboratory device used to connect the oxidation and reduction half-cells of a galvanic cell (voltaic cell), a type of electrochemical cell. It maintains the electrical neutrality within the internal circuit. If no salt bridge were present, the solution in one half cell would accumulate negative charge and the solution in the other half cell would accumulate positive charge as the reaction proceeded, quickly preventing further reaction, and hence production of electricity.^[1]

Salt bridges usually come in two types: glass tube and filter paper.

Glass tube bridges[]

One type of salt bridge consists of a U-shaped glass tube filled with a relatively inert electrolyte. It is usually a combination of potassium or ammonium ions and chloride or nitrate ions, which have similar mobility in solution. The combination is chosen which does not react with any of the chemicals used in the cell.

The electrolyte is often gelified with agar-agar to help prevent the intermixing of fluids which might otherwise occur.

The conductivity of a glass tube bridge depends mostly on the concentration of the electrolyte solution. At concentrations below saturation, an increase in concentration increases conductivity. Beyond-saturation electrolyte content and narrow tube diameter may both lower conductivity.

Filter paper bridges[]

Porous paper such as filter paper may be used as a salt bridge, if soaked in an electrolyte from the choices above. No gelification agent is required as the filter paper provides a solid medium for conduction.

Conductivity of this kind of salt bridge depends on a number of factors: the concentration of the electrolyte solution, the texture of the paper and the absorbing ability of the paper. Generally, smoother texture and higher absorbency equates to higher conductivity.

A porous disk or other porous barriers between the two half-cells may be used instead of a salt bridge; these allow ions to pass between the two solutions, while preventing bulk mixing of the solutions.

See also[]

• Liquid junction potential
• Ion transport number

References[]