What is the consequence of ohmic resistance in an electrochemical cell?

The consequence of ohmic resistance in an electrochemical cell is that it opposes current flow, leading to energy loss. Ohmic resistance is a property of the materials within the cell, including the electrolyte and electrodes, and it results in the dissipation of energy in the form of heat when current flows through the circuit. This means that not all the electrical energy is used for the desired electrochemical reactions; instead, some of it is lost due to the resistance, which can lead to inefficiencies in the cell's performance.

This phenomenon is described by Ohm’s Law, which states that the voltage (V) across a conductor is equal to the product of the current (I) flowing through it and the resistance (R). In an electrochemical context, higher resistance results in a greater voltage drop for a given current, thus necessitating a higher input voltage to maintain the desired current for electrochemical reactions. Consequently, the efficiency of the cell decreases as more electrical energy is wasted overcoming the ohmic resistance.

Understanding the role of resistance is crucial for optimizing the design and operation of electrochemical cells, such as batteries and electrolyzers.