What explains the effect observed in Galvani's frog-leg experiments?

What explains the effect observed in Galvani's frog-leg experiments?

• A. Static electricity from friction explains the effect
• B. The acids within the frog's skin dissolved the metals, creating one positive and the other negative
• C. The metals simply warmed up and created a voltage
• D. The frog's muscles produced electric charges themselves

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that electricity can be produced by a simple electrochemical cell formed by two different metals in an electrolyte. In Galvani’s frog-leg experiments, the frog’s body fluids act as the electrolyte. When two dissimilar metals touch the frog’s tissues, chemical reactions occur at the metal surfaces: one metal tends to lose electrons (oxidize) and the other tends to gain electrons (reduce). This creates a potential difference and allows electrons to flow through the external path—through the frog’s nerves and muscles—causing the muscles to twitch. The acids in the frog’s skin provide the medium for ion movement, making one metal act as the anode and the other as the cathode. This electrochemical setup, not static friction, warming, or the muscles themselves generating electricity, explains the observed contractions.

The main idea here is that electricity can be produced by a simple electrochemical cell formed by two different metals in an electrolyte. In Galvani’s frog-leg experiments, the frog’s body fluids act as the electrolyte. When two dissimilar metals touch the frog’s tissues, chemical reactions occur at the metal surfaces: one metal tends to lose electrons (oxidize) and the other tends to gain electrons (reduce). This creates a potential difference and allows electrons to flow through the external path—through the frog’s nerves and muscles—causing the muscles to twitch. The acids in the frog’s skin provide the medium for ion movement, making one metal act as the anode and the other as the cathode. This electrochemical setup, not static friction, warming, or the muscles themselves generating electricity, explains the observed contractions.