Electrolytic cell question (EK)

[AG22]

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Hi guys,

Can one of you help shed some light on this answer?
I am using EK ed 7 inorganic chem p 122 q 162

Which of the following is true for an electrolytic cell?
a) reduction takes place at the anode
b)rxn is spontaneous
c) electrons flow to the cathode
d) an electrolytic cell requires a salt bridge.

Okay, so I thought that in an electrolytic cell, the e- are forced to go in the opposite dirct to a galvanic cell, hence they should flow to the anode...thus ruling out choice c.

BUt the answer is actually choice C!? with the reasoning that reduction always takes place at the cathode thus the cathode gains electrons. 😕

How should I think about this now?

 

[AG22]

I understand now 🙂

It's because in an electrolytic and galvanic cell electrons always flow towards the cathode where the reduction always takes place with the help of the incoming electrons. However, in an electrolyytic cell, they are simply "forced" by an outside power source to travel towards the now NEGATIVE cathode.

I should google stuff more often methinks!

 

[G1SG2]

I understand now 🙂

It's because in an electrolytic and galvanic cell electrons always flow towards the cathode where the reduction always takes place with the help of the incoming electrons. However, in an electrolyytic cell, they are simply "forced" by an outside power source to travel towards the now NEGATIVE cathode.

I should google stuff more often methinks!

👍

 

[ThirdEye]

Ignore my post.... I'm just marking this so I'll look at it again when I get to E-Chem. Thanks for the info!