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What happens at the cathode during electrolysis?
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electrochemical reaction
Different mechanisms of crystal growth.
During electrolysis, the cathode serves as the negatively charged electrode through which electrons enter the electrolytic cell.12
The primary process occurring at the cathode is reduction. Specifically, positively charged ions present in the electrolyte migrate toward the cathode, where they combine with electrons. By gaining these electrons, the ions are transformed into neutral atoms, new molecules, or ions with a lower charge.3214
This movement of electrons from the cathode to the chemical species is a fundamental component of the oxidation-reduction reaction that drives the electrolytic process.14