galvanisch

Galvanisch is an adjective used in electrochemistry and related fields to describe processes driven by galvanic action. In Dutch and German terminology, galvanisch refers to phenomena arising from galvanic cells and spontaneous redox reactions that produce electrical energy. The term derives from Luigi Galvani, whose 18th-century experiments on animal electricity inspired the concept, although contemporary science distinguishes galvanic phenomena from biological electricity.

A galvanic cell consists of two dissimilar electrodes in an electrolyte. A spontaneous redox reaction causes electrons to flow from the anode to the cathode through an external circuit, generating current. The potential difference between the electrodes, the cell potential, determines the direction and amount of energy available.

Applications span energy generation, electroplating, and corrosion control. In galvanic corrosion, two metals in electrical contact in an electrolyte form a galvanic couple, causing the more active metal to corrode. Galvanization or zinc coating protects steel by acting as the sacrificial anode. Electroplating uses controlled galvanic reactions to deposit a metal layer onto a workpiece. Instruments such as galvanometers and voltmeters are named after galvanic phenomena and measure electrical current or potential.

Historically, Luigi Galvani’s experiments in the late 18th century laid the groundwork for the term galvanic; later researchers refined the understanding of electrochemical cells, redox couples, and standard electrode potentials.

Today, galvanisch describes both the underlying science and practical processes related to galvanic reactions, with applications in energy storage, surface treatment, and corrosion management.