Question

From the cell in the previous question, the electrolytic cell, what should the voltage be of the battery?

A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Neutral
D) It depends

Answer 1

The voltage of the battery for an electrolytic cell should be positive, greater than the negative standard cell potential which indicates a nonspontaneous reaction. In this case, it must be higher than 1.10 V.

Step-by-step explanation:

The voltage of the battery for an electrolytic cell should always be positive. This is because the standard cell potential for an electrolytic cell is negative, indicating that the reaction is nonspontaneous, meaning it requires an external source of energy to proceed. Therefore, the battery should have a higher voltage than the negative standard cell potential to drive the reaction. In this case, with a minimum required voltage of 1.10 V, a positive voltage higher than 1.10 V is needed from the battery. Furthermore, in an electrolytic cell, the anode is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and the cathode to the negative terminal, which is the reverse of a voltaic or galvanic cell.