Now the major components of a galvanic cell are given as the following. So first we have our atom. Our anode for galvanic cell is negatively charged. This is the metal electrode and compartment where oxidation occurs. Remember oxidation means we are losing electrons. Then we have our cathode compartment. This is our positively charged electrode. So this is a metal electrode in compartment where reduction occurs. Reduction means that we are gaining electrons.
So if we take a look here, we have our Galvan Excel. We have our annual compartment which is the anode. Here is this metal rod. In this case it's a zinc metal rod. The cathode here is positively charged, Represents our copper electrode, this copper rod. Now oxidation occurs at the anode. Reduction occurs at the cathode. So if we're losing electrons, electrons are literally leaving this metal zinc electrode and they are heading towards my copper electrode.
Now besides the anode and the cathode, we have a salt bridge. This is a tube that connects both half cells to one another and allows for the flowing of neutral ions. Now, neutral ions may not make sense, right? Apina ion be neutral has a positive and a negative charge. Well here when we say neutral ions, they're just a special type of spectator ions within the solution that possess no acidic or basic properties. Ions can be acidic, basic or neutral depending on their origin. Here we're only using the ions that are neutral in nature, they're not acidic or basic.
Now here, what's the whole purpose of the salt bridge? Its purpose is to neutralize the buildup of cations within the anion half cell. So here this tube would represent my salt bridge. This tube is what connects both electrolytic well electrolyte solutions to one another. It's connecting both half cells to each other. Within this we have neutral ions. Typical neutral ions are sodium ions, potassium ions, bromide ions. Here we're going to say that the negative negatively charged ones like bromide ions would travel over here to the atom compartment and then the NA ones, Na or K positive would go towards this side towards the cathode compartment.
Later on when we talk about electrodes a little bit more specifically, we'll talk about why this is necessary. But for right now I just realize that the salt bridge is that tube that connects both half cells to each other. Within it we have neutral ions. Finally, we have our voltmeter, the device that record the amount of electricity generated by the galvanic cell. It's a voltmeter, so it measures voltage which is capital V And here's the voltmeter here. This little circular thing here we're going to put off because it's measuring voltage O as electrons, as electrons travel from the anode to the cathode, So on this conductive wire we have electrons traveling, we're generating electricity. This voltmeter will give us a reading of value of the amount of electricity that's being produced, right? So here we just have the fundamental and major components of any given galvanic slash. Voltaic so.