Lesson Summary

In this lesson you considered the following questions:

  • What is an electrolytic cell?
  • What chemical and energy conversions occur within an electrolytic cell?

You found that although electrolytic and electric cells share many of the same characteristics, they have important differences. The table shown, from page 640 of the textbook, summarizes the similarities and differences between the voltaic cell (a type of electric cell) and the electrolytic cell.

Voltaic [(a type of electric)] cell Electrolytic cell
spontaneity spontaneous reaction nonspontaneous reaction
standard cell potential
Eºcell		 positive negative
cathode
  • strongest oxidizing agent present undergoes a reduction
  • positive electrode
  • strongest oxidizing agent present undergoes a reduction
  • positive electrode
anode
  • strongest reducing agent present undergoes an oxidation
  • negative electrode
  • strongest reducing agent present undergoes an oxidation
  • positive electrode
direction of electron movement anode → cathode anode → cathode
direction of ion movement
  • anions → anode
  • cations → cathode
  • anions → anode
  • cations → cathode

In an electrolytic cell, electrical energy is applied to create chemical change. You learned that rechargeable cells, sometimes called secondary cells, are one type of electrolytic cell. Other electrolytic cells are used to produce gases like oxygen, hydrogen, and chlorine. In the next lesson you will learn more about how electrolytic cells are used to produce and refine metals.

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