Question

which of the following statements is true of cations? A)cations are attracted to the anode. B)cations undergo oxidation at the proper electrode. C)cations undergo reduction at the proper electrode. D)cations are negatively charged. Please help me!!

Answer 1

I offer you two ways to remember the charge:

(1) You like cats, don't you? Well, then you agree CATions are a positive thing.

(2) But you don't like electrochemistry, right? Well, you agree ANIon would be negative about electrochemistry.

Now you have to remember what's going at which pole of the battery: notice that "anode" and "oxidation" both start with a vowel, and "reduction" and "cathode" with a consonant. It's oxidation at the anode, and reduction at the cathode.

Finally, you need to remember whether oxidation is losing or gaining electron. You've go LEO the lion goes GER (Loss of Electrons is Oxidation and Gain of Electrons is Reduction) or OIL RIG (Oxiation Is Loww, Reduction Is Gain).

Put it all together: a cation is positive, so the reaction it undergoes in a redox reaction is gain of electrons to form a neutral species, and gain is reduction, so cations are reduced, and they must be reduced at the cathode, because that's where reduction takes place.

You can also take note of the fact that the very name "cathode" is derived from the fact that cations go there to react, and "anode" from the fact that anions go there to react.

Answer 2

so which of those choices would be the correct one?

Answer 3

C'mon, go get a cup of coffee and fire up a few neurons. The answer is in there, I just didn't spell it all the way out. If you take the last few steps yourself, you're much more likely to retain the knowledge for the next exam.

Answer 4

oh i get it no! thanks

Answer 5

Huzzah!