(5) Which ions are flowing through the salt bridge while the cell is running? Which way are the ions flowing through the salt bridge? What would happen if the salt bridge were removed?
Phosphate ions are building up in the gold cathode side of the cell as gold is being removed from solution. Conversely, phosphate ions are being consumed in the lanthanum anode cell as lanthanum is being oxidized and the ion is entering solution. The phosphate ions must therefore flow from the cathode to the anode to balance out the charge. The ions are flowing in the opposite direction of the electrons or the direction of the current. Remember that the current is defined as the direction of the flow of positive charge! If the salt bridge were removed a huge charge imbalance will build rapidly and poison the cell.
