Question

What are the direction of flow of electrons and conventional current in electrolysis?

Answer 1

In **electrolysis**, the direction of flow of electrons and conventional current differs due to their opposite charges. Here's how it works:

### 1. **Electron Flow:**
   - **Direction**: From the **negative electrode (cathode)** to the **positive electrode (anode)**.
   - Electrons move through the external circuit, driven by the power supply. In an electrolytic cell, the **cathode** is the negative terminal (where reduction occurs), and the **anode** is the positive terminal (where oxidation occurs).

### 2. **Conventional Current Flow:**
   - **Direction**: From the **positive electrode (anode)** to the **negative electrode (cathode)**.
   - Conventional current is the flow of positive charge, which is defined as moving in the opposite direction to the flow of electrons. In electrolysis, this means the current flows from the **anode** (positive) to the **cathode** (negative) through the electrolyte.

### Summary of Directions:
- **Electron flow**: Cathode (negative) → Anode (positive)
- **Conventional current**: Anode (positive) → Cathode (negative)

This distinction is crucial because electrons (negatively charged particles) move toward the positive electrode, while conventional current (the hypothetical flow of positive charge) moves toward the negative electrode.

Answer 2

In electrolysis, the direction of electron flow and conventional current flow are opposite to each other. Here’s a detailed explanation:

### Electron Flow
- **Electron Flow**: Electrons flow from the **cathode** to the **anode**. This is because, in electrolysis, the cathode is the negative electrode (where reduction occurs), and the anode is the positive electrode (where oxidation occurs). Electrons are released at the anode and flow through the external circuit to the cathode.

### Conventional Current Flow
- **Conventional Current**: Conventional current is considered to flow from the **anode** to the **cathode**. This direction is based on the historical convention that current flows from positive to negative, which is the opposite of the actual flow of electrons.

### Summary
- **Electrons**: Flow from the cathode to the anode.
- **Conventional Current**: Flows from the anode to the cathode.

This convention helps in understanding and analyzing electrical circuits and reactions, even though the actual movement of electrons is the reverse.