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Chapter 17: Problem 34

Define electrolytic cell, and give an example.

Short Answer

Expert verified
An electrolytic cell drives a non-spontaneous redox reaction through the application of electrical energy, converting electrical into chemical energy. It is composed of two electrodes connected by an external power source, and immersed in an electrolyte. An example is the electrolysis of water, where water is transformed into hydrogen and oxygen gases using electrical energy.

Step by step solution

01

Define Electrolytic Cell

An electrolytic cell is a type of cell that drives a non-spontaneous redox reaction through the application of electrical energy. It's designed to convert electrical energy into chemical energy. Electrolytic cells are composed of two electrodes (anode and cathode) connected by an external power source, and are often immersed in an electrolyte that allows ions to move between the electrodes.
02

Provide an Example of Electrolytic Cell

A common example of an electrolytic cell is the electrolysis of water. In this process, water is transformed into hydrogen and oxygen gases using an electric current. The water acts as an electrolyte, while the two electrodes are often made of inert metals. When electrical energy is applied, water molecules (\(2H_{2}O\)) at the anode get oxidized to form oxygen gas (\(O_{2}\)) and four protons (\(4H^{+}\)). On the other hand, at the cathode, four protons (\(4H^{+}\)) are reduced to form hydrogen gas (\(H_{2}\)). The overall reaction becomes: \(2H_{2}O \rightarrow O_{2} + 2H_{2}\).

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Most popular questions from this chapter

What is corrosion, and what is a corrosion cell?

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