Outline and Analyse the Impact of the work of Luigi Galvani, Alessandro Volta,

Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday in understanding electron-transferring

reactions

The modern understanding of electron transferring (known as reduction-oxidation or

redox) reactions has resulted from an accumulative process, in which prominent
scientists, such as Luigi Galvani, Alessandro Volta, Humphry Davy and Michael
Faraday, have progressively developed both the theoretical and practical
understanding of electrochemistry. From the correction of conflicting theories
between Volta and Galvani, to the laws of electrolysis synthesized by Faraday, each
of these scientists have effectively contributed to our understanding of electron-
transferring reactions, and have successfully furthered the scientific community.

Luigi Galvani (1737-1798) was an Italian physician and professor of anatomy whom
undertook a series of investigations into the relationship between nerve action and
electricity. Galvanis experimentation was centered upon the muscular contraction of
frogs legs, stimulated by touching different metals, such as brass and iron, within the
dead muscle tissue. Galvani repeated these experiments, and concluded that animal
tissue must contain a vital force through which an electric fluid permeated; he
(incorrectly) called this animal electricity. Whilst his interpretation was wrong,
Galvani had a significant impact upon the scientific community. His experiments
facilitated an understanding of biological electrical interactions, which ultimately led
to the development of electrophysiology. Furthermore, Galvanis investigations laid
the foundations for the importance of electrolytes in redox reactions, and, although
the idea of electrons had not been suggested yet, promoted greater involvement with
the area of electron-transferring reactions, by provoking Volta to further research
electrochemistry. Naming the electrochemical Galvanic Cell in memory of him
honors the significant impact of his work. Galvani thus greatly contributed to our
understanding of redox reactions, and laid the foundations for a huge scientific
involvement in the field of electrochemistry.

Alessandro Volta (1745-1827) was an Italian physics professor who worked closely
with Galvani. However, Volta refuted the theory of animal electricity and proposed
that the touching of the two differing metals was what caused the twitch in the frogs
leg. He called this conflicting theory metallic electricity and thoroughly
investigated the action of different metals. From his work, Volta devised a primitive
electrochemical series of metals based upon their relative reactivity and divided a
group of metals into three classes. Volta successfully repudiated the idea of animal
electricity with the development of the famous Voltaic Pile. This involved a stack
of alternating zinc and silver discs separated by cardboard soaked in brine, and acted
as the first reliable and consistent source of DC electricity, forming the foundations
for modern electrochemical cells. However, Volta (also incorrectly) believed the
generation of electricity was due to the contact between the two metals. Nonetheless,
although his observational interpretation was incorrect, similarly to Galvani, Voltas
experiments facilitated the research of Humphrey Davy into electrolysis (another
electron-transferring reaction) and firmly established the relationship between
electricity, metals and electrolytes. The Voltaic Pile catalyzed the involvement of the
scientific community in the field of electrochemistry, and Voltas primitive
electrochemical series of metals laid the foundations for the modern list of reduction-
oxidation potentials, based upon the reactivity and electron-transferring ability of
metals. Furthermore, Volta aided the scientific search for truth by disproving
Galvanis incorrect theory. Alessandro Volta thus also greatly contributed to our
understanding of redox reactions, and his work is honored with naming the unit of
electromotive force, Volt, after him.

Humphrey Davy (1778-1829) is recognized as one of the most influential figures in

the history of chemistry. Davy improved upon Voltas Pile and used it as the basis for
a thorough investigation into electrochemistry. Firstly, Davy correctly recognized that
the generation of electricity in the previous experiments conducted by Galvani and
Volta was due to chemical reactions, and correctly identified such reactions as
decomposition processes. Using this knowledge, Davy developed electrolysis
apparatus to investigate the major electron-transferring reaction of electrolysis. He
was able to successfully electrolytically decompose water into its constituent (O2 and
H2) elements, showing that it was a compound. Furthermore, through the electrolysis
of molten salt samples, Davy was able to not only isolate samples of the reactive
alkali metals Potassium and Sodium (also Sr, Ca, Mg, Ba), but also demonstrated that
water/aqueous solutions were not necessary for electrolysis. This was a significant
breakthrough in both theoretical and practical chemistry, and formed the foundations
for modern methods of obtaining such substances. In addition to this, Davy proposed
a primitive method of cathodic protection to prevent the rusting of ships hulls using
zinc, and showed that surface area of electrodes affects the rate of corrosion. It is clear
therefore, that Davy significantly contributed to both the practical and theoretical
understanding of electron-transferring reactions and, by successfully identifying the
reason for electrical generation (chemical reactions), Davy also promoted an
extremely beneficial and productive involvement of the scientific community in the
field of electrochemistry.

Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was an assistant to Humphrey Davy and contributed to

our understanding in a different manner. Whilst the above scientists developed a
significant practical and theoretical understanding of redox reactions, Faraday
produced a quantitative analysis of electrochemistry. Firstly, Faraday systemized the
terminology used to describe electrolysis reactions (such as cathode, anode,
electrolyte, anion, cation), allowing the processes of electrochemistry to be more
accurately defined and described. Faraday also emphasized the importance of ion
movement in the electrolyte of electrochemical cells and the changes occurring at
each electrode. However, Faradays greatest impact in the understanding of electron-
transferring reactions is the development of his two Laws of Electrolysis. The First
Law states that: The amount of substance evolved, dissolved or deposited at an
electrode is proportional to the quantity of electric charge passing through the
circuit. Also, Faraday defined electric charge mathematically as: Q=It, and is simply
put as a greater amount of substance to be produced at an electrode requires a higher
amount of electricity. This provided a quantified understanding of electrolysis and
redox reactions, and was an essential development in industrial and commercial
chemistry, for the production of a particular amount of substance. The second law
states that: The amount of substance, in moles, produced or dissolved at an electrode
by passing the same amount of electricity, is inversely proportional to the charges on
the ions and molecular weight of the substances involved. This links the quantity of
electric charge transferred in a cell and the moles of substance involved. Faradays
laws also allowed predictability to be drawn from redox reactions. Furthermore,
Faradays discoveries formed the foundations for Daltons atomic theory, in which his
quantity of charge became the electron. Thus, before particle theory had been
developed, Faraday allowed a thorough understanding of the underlying principles of
redox reactions. Michael Faraday thus greatly impacted our understanding of
electron-transferring reactions, and allowed a deep quantitative understanding of
electrochemistry.

It is clear, therefore, that the developments made by these scientists led the scientific
community to gain a deeper understanding of oxidation-reduction reactions and the
role of ions and electrons in such processes. From scientist to scientist, an
accumulation of knowledge occurred, furthering theories and promoting great
involvement in the field of electrochemistry. Galvani, Volta, Davy and Faraday have
thus positively impacted our modern understanding of electron-transferring reactions.