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QPage 217: Q8: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Thermal and Chemical Effects of Electric Current Page 217: Q8 Solution: Do the electrodes in an electrolytic cell have fixed polarity…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often assume cathode is always negative and anode always positive, treating electrode polarity as fixed. In an electrolytic cell the applied voltage determines which electrode becomes cathode or anode; if the external voltage exceeds the cell’s emf the polarity flips, so polarity must be inferred from current direction, not from the electrode itself.

Do the electrodes in an electrolytic cell have fixed polarity like a battery?

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** No, the electrodes in an electrolytic cell do not have fixed polarity. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** If the external voltage is less than the cell's emf, one electrode acts as cathode; if the external voltage exceeds the cell's emf, the roles reverse. The polarity depends on the external circuit, not on the electrode itself [citation:12].

All Questions in this Chapter

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