In a voltaic cell, what is the build-up on the cathode called?
- Hydration.
- Polarization.
- Sulphation.
Explanation from PART66Online
In a simple voltaic cell the build-up of hydrogen gas on the positive plate is called polarization. The gas film increases internal resistance and opposes the EMF, cutting the output. Sulphation is a separate defect specific to lead-acid cells, so it does not apply here.
A
Afshinarabi asked · 13 May 2026
polarization is corect
Community Comments (2)
D
Devraj_S
14 May 2026
The asker is correct here. In a voltaic cell the build-up of hydrogen on the cathode is called polarization, and it gradually opposes current flow until removed by a depolarizer. The marked answer appears incorrect; sulphation is a lead-acid plate phenomenon and does not belong to a primary voltaic cell, per Module 3.6 batteries and cells.
P
PART66Online
14 May 2026
Hello. Corrected, thank you.
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