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The study of electron transport in systems undergoing chemical reactions is known as electrochemistry. Chemical reactions can either be employed to create an electrical current or to assist the occurrence of a nonspontaneous chemical reaction. Electrical energy will be converted into chemical energy or the other way around in both cases. Cells, or more accurately, electrochemical cells, are the systems in which these transitions take to happen. Voltaic cells and electrolytic cells are the two forms of electrochemical cells. The major distinction between an electrochemical cell and an electrolytic cell is that an electrochemical cell does not require external current to function, but electrolytic cells do.
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What is an Electrochemical Cell?
An electrochemical cell is a device that converts electricity into chemical energy. An electrochemical cell is a device that can generate electrical energy from chemical processes that occur spontaneously. Redox reactions are the chemical processes that take place throughout this process. Electrons are transferred between chemical species in redox reactions. A redox reaction is made up of two half-reactions: oxidation and reduction. When an oxidation reaction occurs, electrons are always released into the system, but when a reduction reaction occurs, electrons are taken away from the system. As a result, the two half-reactions happen at the same time. Voltaic (galvanic) cells and electrolytic cells are two forms of electrochemical cells. Two half cells make up an electrochemical cell. In two half cells, half-reactions take place.
What is an Electrolytic Cell?
An electrolytic cell is a device that uses electricity to produce electricity. An electrolytic cell is a form of an electrochemical cell that uses electrical energy to initiate a chemical reaction. To put it another way, electrical energy should come from somewhere else. Then you can start a nonspontaneous response. The most common type of electrolytic cell used for compound electrolysis is the electrolytic cell. Solid metal electrodes are also used in electrolytic cells. An external circuit is linked to two electrodes. One electrode serves as an anode, while the other serves as a cathode. The anode will undergo the oxidation reaction, whereas the cathode will undergo the reduction reaction.
An electron flow via the cathode is provided by an external electrical energy supply (from the battery attached to the two electrodes). The electrons are subsequently injected into the electrolytic solution. The cations in the solution then congregate around the cathode and absorb electrons that are passing through it. As a result, at the cathode, these cations are decreased. The cathode’s electrons repel the anions in the solution. These anions are drawn to the anode. These anions then lose electrons and get oxidised. As a result, the cathode has a negative charge whereas the anode has a positive charge.
Difference Between Electrochemical Cell and Electrolytic Cell
| Electrochemical Cell | Electrolytic Cell |
| An electrochemical cell is a system that uses spontaneous chemical reactions to generate electrical energy | An electrolytic cell is a form of electrochemical cell in which electrical energy is utilised to initiate a chemical reaction |
| External electrical energy sources are not required for electrochemical cells | External electrical energy sources are required for electrolytic cells |
| Chemical reactions occur spontaneously in electrochemical cells | Nonspontaneous chemical reactions occur in electrolytic cells |
| The anode of an electrochemical cell is negative, whereas the cathode is positive | The anode of an electrolytic cell is positive, whereas the cathode is negative |
In electrochemical cells, electrons go from the anode to the cathode Chemical energy is turned into electrical energy in an electrochemical cell | Electrons go from the battery to the cathode, then via the electrolytic solution to the anode in electrolytic cells Electrical energy is turned into chemical energy in an electrolytic cell |
Conclusion
A type of electrochemical cell is an electrolytic cell. As a result, the electrolytic cell has all of the components found in a standard electrochemical cell. Electrochemical and electrolytic cells both rely on the movement of electrons through the system. However, spontaneous chemical reactions occur in electrochemical cells, whereas nonspontaneous chemical reactions occur in electrolytic cells. The distinction between an electrochemical and an electrolytic cell is this.
