Electrolytic cell

Electrolytic cells are composed of an electrolyte (usually water or another solvent capable of dissolving various ions of interest), a cathode and an anode.

Related Topics:
Electrolyte - Water - Solvent - Ion - Cathode - Anode

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An Electrolytic cell is powered by electricity to produce a change in the chemicals in the cell, providing the energy to convert the chemicals into ones with higher energy storage.

Related Topics:
Electricity - Chemicals - Energy - Energy storage

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In contrast, a Galvanic Cell (also known as a voltaic cell, voltaic pile or an electrochemical cell) uses the chemical energy of the high-energy chemicals reacting to generate electricity - the opposite of the electrolytic cell.

Related Topics:
Galvanic Cell - Voltaic cell - Voltaic pile - Electrochemical cell - Chemical energy - Electricity

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To reflect this difference, the Anode and Cathode in the two types of cell have different polarities assigned to them.

Related Topics:
Anode - Cathode - Polarities

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In an electrolytic cell, the positively charged anode is paired with the positively charged end of a voltaic cell, and the negative cathode is paired with the negative end of a voltaic cell, thus reversing the flow of electrons from the standard pathway of negative to positive (such as in a voltaic cell) to positive to negative. This is important, because it allows the cell to be recharged and able to function again.

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See also: Electrolysis, Galvanic Cell

Related Topics:
Electrolysis - Galvanic Cell

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