Question

Which of the following statement is correct?

• A. Cathode is -ve terminal in electrolytic cell
• B. Anode is +ve terminal in both, galvanic and electrolytic cells.
• C. Cathode and anode are -ve terminal in electrolytic and galvanic cell
• D. Cathode and anode are +ve terminal in electrolytic and galvanic cell

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

A Cathode is -ve terminal in electrolytic cell

Answer 2

In electrochemistry, we deal with two main types of cells: galvanic (or voltaic) cells and electrolytic cells. The terminals of these cells are called anode and cathode, where oxidation and reduction reactions occur, respectively.

1. Galvanic Cell: This type of cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy through a spontaneous redox reaction.

   • Anode: The electrode where oxidation occurs. It is the source of electrons and is the negative terminal.
   • Cathode: The electrode where reduction occurs. It receives electrons from the anode and is the positive terminal.
   • Summary for Galvanic Cell: Anode (-), Cathode (+)

2. Electrolytic Cell: This type of cell uses electrical energy to drive a non-spontaneous redox reaction, converting electrical energy into chemical energy. It requires an external power source.

   • Anode: The electrode where oxidation occurs. It is connected to the positive terminal of the external power source and is the positive terminal.
   • Cathode: The electrode where reduction occurs. It is connected to the negative terminal of the external power source and is the negative terminal.
   • Summary for Electrolytic Cell: Anode (+), Cathode (-)

Now let's evaluate the given statements based on these definitions:

A Cathode is -ve terminal in electrolytic cell. In an electrolytic cell, the cathode is the negative terminal. This statement is correct.

B Anode is +ve terminal in both, galvanic and electrolytic cells. In an electrolytic cell, the anode is the positive terminal. However, in a galvanic cell, the anode is the negative terminal. This statement is incorrect.

C Cathode and anode are -ve terminal in electrolytic and galvanic cell. In an electrolytic cell, the cathode is negative, but the anode is positive. In a galvanic cell, the cathode is positive, and the anode is negative. This statement is incorrect.

D Cathode and anode are +ve terminal in electrolytic and galvanic cell. In an electrolytic cell, the anode is positive, but the cathode is negative. In a galvanic cell, the cathode is positive, but the anode is negative. This statement is incorrect.

Only statement A is correct.