Galvanic Cell (Voltaic Cell)
Build a battery from two metals and watch electrons flow, with the cell voltage.
About the Galvanic Cell (Voltaic Cell)
Free galvanic cell simulation. Choose anode and cathode metals, watch electrons flow through the wire and ions through the salt bridge, and see the cell voltage from standard reduction potentials. Built for electrochemistry, the galvanic cell (voltaic cell) runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
Build a battery from two metals and watch electrons flow, with the cell voltage. Use it to explore electrochemistry ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the Galvanic Cell (Voltaic Cell)
- Use the controls to change Left half-cell metal, Right half-cell metal, Your metal X: E°, Your metal Y: E°. The simulation reacts instantly.
- Press "Close the circuit", "Reset" to start, reset or change what is happening.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Build a Zn–Cu cell.
- Try Mg with Ag.
- Close the circuit and watch the electrodes.
- Find the largest voltage.
Key ideas you can learn
- Oxidation happens at the anode and reduction at the cathode.
- Electrons flow from anode to cathode through the wire.
- E°cell = E°cathode − E°anode. A positive value means the cell is spontaneous.
Where this is used in the real world
Galvanic cells are batteries. Understanding electrode potentials helps design phones, cars, grid storage and prevent corrosion.
Who is this simulation for?
Chemistry students studying redox, batteries and electrolysis, and teachers who want a clear picture of where the electrons go.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
Which way do electrons flow in a galvanic cell?
From the anode (where oxidation happens) through the wire to the cathode (where reduction happens).
What does the salt bridge do?
It lets ions move between the two half-cells to keep each solution electrically neutral, which completes the circuit.
Is the Galvanic Cell (Voltaic Cell) free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the Galvanic Cell (Voltaic Cell) work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.