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Galvanic Cell: Spontaneous Redox Generates Current

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A galvanic cell separates a spontaneous redox reaction's oxidation and reduction half-reactions into two compartments joined by a wire, forcing electrons through as current.

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A zinc-copper galvanic cell drives electrons from zinc, through a wire, to copper, lighting a bulb.

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The same reaction run unseparated still transfers electrons, but with no circuit, no current results.