galvanic cell
- noun
- /ɡælˈvænɪk sɛl/
- Specialized
- In a chemistry lab, students built a simple galvanic cell using copper and zinc electrodes.
Examples
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The common battery is a type of galvanic cell used in many portable devices.
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A galvanic cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy.
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A galvanic cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy through spontaneous redox reactions.
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The galvanic cells in batteries are essential for powering devices.
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In a chemistry lab, students built a simple galvanic cell using copper and zinc electrodes.
-
The common battery is a type of galvanic cell used in many portable devices.
-
A galvanic cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy through spontaneous redox reactions.
Synonyms
A small device inside a battery that makes electricity
A small battery that you throw away after one use
A device that makes electricity from a reaction between two metals and cannot be charged again
A small device that makes electricity when its chemicals change
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built: 'galvanic' means relating to electricity produced by chemical reactions and 'cell' denotes a unit producing electricity, so together they denote an electrochemical electrical cell. This follows a regular adjective+noun formation common in scientific vocabulary, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Galvanic cell may come from Luigi Galvani, a scientist who saw frog legs twitch when metal touched them. The word cell means a small unit that makes electricity, so a galvanic cell is like a simple 'battery' that makes electricity from a chemical reaction.