Electrolytic Cells
Definition
Electrolytic cells are devices that drive nonspontaneous redox reactions using an external source of voltage (electricity).
Analogy
An electrolytic cell is like your phone charger. Just as your charger uses electricity to recharge your phone's battery (a non-spontaneous event), an electrolytic cell uses electricity to drive chemical reactions that wouldn't occur naturally.
Related terms
Electrodes: These are conductors through which electricity enters or leaves an electrolyte (or other medium). In an electrolytic cell, there are two electrodes - anode and cathode.
Anode: This is the electrode where oxidation occurs in an electrochemical cell.
Cathode: This is the electrode where reduction occurs in an electrochemical cell.
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