What is an Electrolytic Cell?
An electrolytic cell is an electrochemical device that uses electrical energy to start a chemical reaction. The cell consists of two electrodes (anode and cathode) immersed in an electrolyte solution. An external voltage is applied between the electrodes to drive a redox reaction at the electrode surfaces. This electric current cause the electrolyte to split into constituent ions which are mobile in nature. The ion then start moving towards electrode in the manner that anions move to anode and cations move to cathode. This lead to the deposition of element of the electrodes. This whole process is called electrolysis. Hence, we can say that an electrolytic cell is a chemical cell which operates on the principle of electrolysis.
Components of Electrolytic Cell
The three main components of an electrolytic cell are:
- Anode: A positive electrode
- Cathode: A negative electrode
- Electrolyte: A liquid solution that conducts electricity
The electrolyte solution contains dissolved ions that move around the solution, allowing it to conduct electricity. The electrolyte can be either molten or in an aqueous solution.
Diagram of Electrolytic Cell
The diagram of electrolytic cell is shown below:
Electrolytic Cell – Definition, Diagram, Working, Applications
An electrolytic cell is a electrochemical cell in which electrical energy is used to carry out chemical reaction in the cell. The chemical reaction happening inside an electrolytic cell is a redox reaction, which is spontaneous in nature. This whole process of carrying out chemical reactions with the help of electric current is called electrolysis.
In this article, we will learn in detail about electrolytic cell, its component, diagram and working. We will also learn difference between electrolytic cell and galvanic cell.
Table of Content
- What is an Electrolytic Cell?
- Working of Electrolytic Cell
- Electrolytic Cell and Electrolysis
- Difference Between Galvanic Cells and Electrolytic Cells
- Applications of Electrolytic Cells
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