Electrolytic Cell

[SKation]

Hi,

I was just looking over the electrolytic cells, and in the EK book it says that reduction still occurs at cathode and oxidation at anode however if that is the case i dont quite understand how if the electrons flow the other way then how can the ion gain electrons and become the solid metal when it is supposed to be losing electrons.

Thank You!

 

[brood910]

Electrons flow through the salt bridge to keep the charges balanced (anode to cathode).
Think about it. Anode = oxidation = more electrons are made. Cathode = reduction = electrons are "absorbed".

 

[SKation]

Electrons flow through the salt bridge to keep the charges balanced (anode to cathode).
Think about it. Anode = oxidation = more electrons are made. Cathode = reduction = electrons are "absorbed".

i understand that aspect of it however when in an electrolytic cell the electrons are going the opposite way so how would that still allow the oxidation to take place at the anode

 

[brood910]

i understand that aspect of it however when in an electrolytic cell the electrons are going the opposite way so how would that still allow the oxidation to take place at the anode

I just explained that.
Electrons move from anode to cathode.
You need electrons to reduce things. Electrons are made when oxidation takes place at anode.
If electrons dont flow to cathode, how are you going to keep the charge balanced?

 

[SKation]

yh but how would you explain the fact of the positively charged amino acids in elctrophoresis moving towards the anode and not cathode

 

[brood910]

yh but how would you explain the fact of the positively charged amino acids in elctrophoresis moving towards the anode and not cathode

Anode is positively charged in electrolytic cells. So actually, no, positively charged aa moves towards cathode (-).

 

[SKation]

Thanks! I got it now, i was misinterpreting 🙂