Final answer:
In an electrolytic cell, the cathode is negative, opposite to its charge in a voltaic cell, and serves as the site of reduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The charge of the cathode in an electrolytic cell is negative. This contrasts with a voltaic cell, where the cathode is positive. In an electrolytic cell, the anode, which is the site of oxidation, is connected to the positive terminal of the battery, making it positive, and thus, by convention, the cathode is negative because it is connected to the negative terminal of the battery and is the site where reduction takes place. Electrons always flow from the anode to the cathode in both types of cells. It is important to remember that in electrolytic cells, an external source of electricity is required to drive the nonspontaneous reactions, which is reflected by the need for a battery that can deliver at least a certain voltage, such as 1.10V of direct current for the reaction to occur.