To construct the galvanic cell illustrated above, the salt bridge was prepared by soaking a piece of cotton in 5.0MNaNO3(aq) before placing it inside the U-shaped tube filled with distilled water. If the cotton was soaked in distilled water by mistake, which of the following best explains how the operation of the cell would be affected?

A. The operation of the cell is not affected because neither Na+(aq) nor NO3?(aq) is involved in the redox reaction that takes place.

B. The operation of the cell generates a higher potential because there are fewer ions in the solution, making the reaction more thermodynamically favored.

C. The cell will operate for a much longer time because the flow of electrons through the circuit will eventually be reversed.

D. The cell would not operate because a current could not be conducted between the half-cells.

Cu Voltmeter 1 M Cu(NO3)2 +0.46 V Salt Bridge (NaNO3) Piece of Cotton + Ag 1 M AgNO3