Question

The positively charged ions in an electrolytic solution are called
(A) Cathode
(B) Anode
(C) Cation
(D) Anion

Answer 1

Hint
During electrolysis, cations of the electrolyte move towards the cathode and anions move towards the anode. Also since unlike charges attract, and like charges repel so from the charge of cathode and anode we can determine which the positively charged ions are.

Complete step by step answer
Some reactions take place at high temperature, some at high pressure, some in the presence of heat and some in the presence of light (such as photosynthesis). There is a category of reactions which takes place in the presence of electricity. These reactions are called electrolytic reactions and the process is called electrolysis.
In electrolysis, two electrodes are dipped into a solution called the electrolytes and direct current is passed through the electrodes into the solution. During electrolysis, chemical reactions take place at the electrodes and a decomposition of the electrolyte occurs. Usually electrolytes are liquid conducting substances which contain ions and allow these ions to freely move about, but they can also be ionic solids melted down with heat and preserved at a molten state.
There are two electrodes used during electrolysis, one is called the cathode and the other anode. The cathode is connected to the negative terminal of the battery (thus called negative electrode) while the anode is connected to the positive terminal (thus called positive electrode). So the polarity is determined by the terminal of the battery connected to the specific electrode.
When the current flows through the electrodes into the solution, the free ions are energized and thus start to become polarized i.e. negative moves to anode (positive electrode) and positive to cathode (negative electrode). By definition, the ions that move to the cathode are called cations and the ions that move to the anode are called anions.
Hence, the cations must be the positively charged ions.
So the correct option is (C).

Note
Electrolysis, in application, can be used to obtain pure elements from their naturally occurring ores. It is also used to plate some metals with layers of other metals to improve the properties for decorative purposes.