Question

How is chemical reduction different from electrolytic reduction?

Answer 1

Hint: To answer this question, we first need to understand what chemical reaction is. A chemical reaction occurs when one or more compounds, known as reactants, are changed into one or more distinct substances, known as products. Chemical elements or compounds are examples of substances. The constituent atoms of the reactants are rearranged in a chemical reaction, resulting in the formation of various substances as products.

Complete answer:
Chemical reduction – Reduction is a half-reaction in which a chemical species loses electrons and thereby reduces its oxidation number. The second part of the reaction is oxidation, which involves the loss of electrons. Redox reactions are formed when reduction and oxidation are combined (reduction-oxidation Equals redox). Reduction can be thought of as the polar opposite of oxidation.
Oxidation and reduction can be thought of as oxygen transfer reactions in some cases. The gain of oxygen is referred to as oxidation, whereas the loss of oxygen is referred to as reduction.
Electrolytic reduction – Electrolytic reduction is a type of electrolysis in which an electric current is passed through a molten or dissolved ionic substance, causing chemical reactions between the electrodes and the components to disintegrate. The hydroxides, oxides, and chlorides of metals in their mixed state are electrically reduced using this method. Metals are collected at the cathode. Electrolytic reduction is used to obtain some metals, such as K, Na, and Al.
So, we conclude that the reason of difference between them are –
Chemical reduction is the process of reducing any compound using chemical substances alone, without the use of any external agents such as current. The reduction process in electrolytic reduction is accomplished by producing a potential difference between the two electrodes using electrolytes and current.
Also, in chemical reduction, the movement of atoms causes the reduction of any molecule, whereas in electrolytic reduction, the movement of electrons causes the reduction.

Note:
Redox is a chemical reaction that involves changing the oxidation states of atoms. Redox reactions are defined as the actual or formal movement of electrons between chemical entities, with one species often experiencing oxidation while the other experiences reduction.