Question

Cathode is a reducing electrode because ______.

Options

• it has less number of electrons.

• it has deficiency of electrons.

• cations gain electrons from cathode.

• anions lose electrons to cathode.

Answer 1

Cathode is a reducing electrode because cations gain electrons from cathode.

Explanation:

During electrolysis, the cathode is connected to the negative terminal of the battery and becomes rich in electrons. Positively charged ions (cations) migrate toward this electrode and accept/gain these electrons to get discharged as neutral atoms. Since the gain of electrons is defined as a reduction, the cathode functions as a reducing electrode.