Ions floating through a salt bridge in a voltaic cell

[NiCKEL]

Which ions float through the salt bridge in a voltaic cell? I know the ions of the salt within the bridge move for sure (e.g. K⁺ and NO₃^-, but do cations formed by oxidation (e.g. Cu²⁺) of the electrode and anions of the compound that made the electrolyte move as well? (e.g. SO₄^2- from a copper II sulphate solution)

[kw0573]

This is a really good question!
Rather than thinking that ions flow "through" the salt bridge, think of it as ions "dissipated" on both ends to neutralize either side of the half reaction.
I think it's quite possible that occasionally the cations formed by oxidation can be attracted upwards slightly into the salt bridge, but they don't have enough attraction to move all the way to the other side of the semi-permeable reaction chamber. It's the nitrate ions near this side of the salt bridge that get pulled to join the copper(II) ions.
Hope that explains

EDIT:
The salt bridge is MEANT to separate the two reaction chambers, so no ions of one chamber will make it to the other. The chambers are separated so there is positive voltage across the two electrodes, otherwise there is no net flow of electrons to harness energy from.

Edited November 27, 2015 by kw0573