Which of the following statements is correct for an electrolytic cell ?

Options

A. electrons flow from cathode to anode through external battery
B. electrons flow from cathode to anode within the electrolytic solution
C. Migration of ions along with oxidation reaction at cathode and reduction reaction at anode
D. migration of ions along with reduction reaction at cathode and oxidation reaction at anode

Answer

To determine which statement is correct for an electrolytic cell, let's analyze the functioning of an electrolytic cell step by step.

### Step 1: Understand the Components of an Electrolytic Cell
An electrolytic cell consists of:
- Two electrodes: Anode (positive) and Cathode (negative)
- An electrolyte solution that conducts electricity
- A power source (battery) that drives the electrochemical reaction

**Hint:** Remember that in an electrolytic cell, the anode is positive and the cathode is negative.

### Step 2: Identify the Reactions at Each Electrode
In an electrolytic cell:
- At the **anode**, oxidation occurs (loss of electrons).
- At the **cathode**, reduction occurs (gain of electrons).

**Hint:** Oxidation is associated with the anode, while reduction is associated with the cathode.

### Step 3: Analyze the Flow of Electrons
Electrons flow from the **anode** to the **cathode** through the external circuit. This means that the electrons are released at the anode and accepted at the cathode.

**Hint:** The direction of electron flow is crucial; they always move from anode to cathode.

### Step 4: Understand Ion Migration
In the electrolyte:
- Cations (positive ions) migrate towards the cathode (where reduction occurs).
- Anions (negative ions) migrate towards the anode (where oxidation occurs).

**Hint:** Remember that cations are attracted to the negative electrode (cathode) and anions to the positive electrode (anode).

### Step 5: Evaluate the Given Statements
Now, let's evaluate the statements provided in the question:
1. Electrons flow from cathode to anode - **Incorrect** (they flow from anode to cathode).
2. Migration along with oxidation at cathode - **Incorrect** (oxidation occurs at the anode, not the cathode).
3. Migration of ions along with reduction at cathode - **Correct** (cations migrate to the cathode where reduction occurs).
4. Migration of ions along with oxidation at anode - **Incorrect** (oxidation occurs at the anode, but this statement is not phrased correctly).

### Conclusion
The correct statement for an electrolytic cell is: **"Migration of ions along with reduction at cathode."**

**Final Answer:** The correct statement is option 3: "Migration of ions along with reduction at cathode."