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Question

Why is cathode in an electrolytic cell considered to be negative and anode positive?

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Solution

At anode, the electron must be removed from the species because oxidation does not occur spontaneously.At cathode, the electron must be supplied to the species to force the reduction. Hence, anode must be positiveand cathode must be negative so that the electrons are effectively pulled out of anode and pushed into the cathode.

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