Definitions for "Electrolytic cell"
A device that uses electricity from an external source to drive a redox reaction.
an electrochemical cell used to cause a chemical change through the application of electrical energy; a cell in which electrolysis is taking place. (see voltaic cell)
A device, identical in constrution to the galvanic cell, in which the reverse of the thermodynamically spontaneous redox reaction is forced to occur by the application of a voltage in the opposite sense. The applied voltage must be greater than that produced by the corresponding galvanic cell. As in the galvanic cell, oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction occurs at the cathode. However, the polarities are reversed in the electrolytic cell such that the anode is positive and the cathode is negative. Contrast with: Galvanic cell