Final answer:
The statement that positive ions of electrolytes are cations and are attracted to a cathode is true. Cations are positively charged ions that move towards the negatively charged cathode in an electrical field, which is a key concept in electrochemistry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that positive ions of electrolytes are cations and are attracted to a cathode is true. When an atom loses one or more electrons, it becomes a cation, carrying a positive charge. These cations are attracted to the negative electrode, known as the cathode, in an electrical field. This principle is evident in many applications, including the functioning of lithium-ion batteries, where lithium ions (cations) move between the anode and cathode.
Furthermore, it's important to understand that the charge and direction of movement for ions can differ in electrochemical cells versus electrolytic cells. In an electrochemical cell, the anode is negative and the cathode is positive, which is the typical scenario when discussing ion movement. However, this is reversed in an electrolytic cell - the anode is positive and the cathode is negative.