Question

An electrolytic cell consists of:
(A) Positively charged cathode
(B) Negatively charged anode
(C) Positively charged anode and negatively charged cathode
(D) Positively charged cathode and negatively charged anode

Answer 1

To answer this question, you must recall the structure and working of an electrolytic cell. The process in which an electric current causes a non- spontaneous chemical reaction to occur is known as electrolysis and this process is carried out in an electrolytic cell. The charges on cathode and anode are opposite for electrolytic cells in relation to electrochemical cells.

Complete step by step solution:
An electrolytic cell is a cell which converts electrical energy into chemical energy. To understand the concept of electrolysis and the working of electrolytic cells, we first consider the electrolysis of a molten salt, say sodium chloride in an electrolytic cell.
Molten ${\text{NaCl}}$ means the presence of free sodium ions and free chloride anions. As electric current is passed in the cell, the ${\text{C}}{{\text{l}}^ - }$ ions are attracted to the positive electrode and get oxidized to chlorine gas. Meanwhile the ${\text{N}}{{\text{a}}^ + }$ ions are attracted towards the negatively charged electrode and get reduced to sodium metal.
We know that anode is the site for oxidation and cathode is the site for reduction, no matter what the cell is. So, we can say that in the electrolytic cell, we have a positively charged anode and negatively charged cathode.
Thus, the correct answer is C.

Note:
The process of electrolysis is further explained by Faraday’s Laws of electrolysis. Faraday proposed two laws for electrolysis. The first law states that the amount of a substance deposited or liberated at an electrode is directly proportional to the quantity of electricity that is passed through the electrolytic cell. The second law states that when a given quantity of electricity is passed through different electrolytes, the amounts of substances produced are directly proportional to their equivalent weights.