Which process occurs at the cathode in a galvanic cell?

In a galvanic cell, the process that occurs at the cathode is reduction. The cathode is defined as the electrode where the reduction reaction takes place, meaning that it is the site where electrons are gained by the ions. When a substance is reduced, it undergoes a decrease in oxidation state, which is typically accompanied by the gaining of electrons.

In a galvanic cell, the anode is where oxidation occurs, and this reaction involves the loss of electrons. The electrons produced at the anode flow through an external circuit to the cathode, where they are accepted by the reducible species present. This flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode is what generates electrical energy in galvanic cells.

The choices regarding electrolysis and corrosion do not pertain to the functions of the electrodes in a conventional galvanic cell. Electrolysis refers to the process of using electrical energy to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction and typically occurs in electrolytic cells rather than galvanic cells. Corrosion involves the deterioration of metals due to electrochemical processes and can involve both oxidation and reduction but is not a specific process tied to the function of the cathode in a galvanic cell.

Hence, the clear distinction of reduction occurring at the cath