physics of chemical cells...

[albertlee]

At my current level of chemistry learning at school, explanation of the chemical cells is at the level of "how",

 

but I want to know "why"

 

for the 1st instance, how come the electrons move through the metals at the negative pole along with wires instead of moving towards the electrolyte??

 

2ndly, what makes the less reactive repulsive from reacting with the electrolyte if the more reactive metal pole is in presence???

 

 

thanks

[albertlee]

any one????

[latentheat]

for the 1st instance' date=' how come the electrons move through the metals at the negative pole along with wires instead of moving towards the electrolyte??

[/quote']

I'd imagine it's because the electromotive force is affecting all the electrons that are free in the metallic bonded lattice, not just the ones where the electrode first touches the solution.

 

2ndly' date=' what makes the less reactive repulsive from reacting with the electrolyte if the more reactive metal pole is in presence???

[/quote']

I'm a little confused here? Are you asking why certain metals resist oxidation at the anode? If so, it's because certain metals have a lower oxidation potential than just about any anion that you can imagine. So they're good if you want to oxidize an anion in solution and not the metal. Platinum is one of these metals.