Question

How is chemical reduction different from electrolytic reduction ?

Answer 1

The chemical reduction is different from electrolytic reduction in the following ways:

1. In chemical reduction, the chemical compound ease the reduction of any compound without any external agent like current and voltage.
2. The reduction of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ is explained below:
3. ${\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3+3\mathrm{CO}\underset{}{\overset{}{\to }}2\mathrm{Fe}+3{\mathrm{CO}}_2$
4. However in electrolytic reduction, electrolyte and current ease the reduction process through creating the potential difference between two electrodes.
5. The electrolytic reduction of pure alumina to pure aluminum by Hall Herault's process is explained below:
6. 
7. The transfer of hydrogen atom take place in chemical reduction while transfer of electrons take place in electrolytic reduction.

Therefore, the above points clearly explain the difference of chemical reduction and electrolytic reduction.