Ace the AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 in 2025 – Ignite Your Inner Science Superstar!

In electrolysis, the anode is the positively charged electrode where oxidation occurs. Since like charges repel and opposite charges attract, positive ions move towards the anode due to the attraction to the negative charge of the anode.

When conducting electrolysis, positive ions, which are cations, are attracted to the anode because they possess a positive charge. As they reach the anode, they may undergo oxidation, which involves losing electrons. This process is a critical part of electrolysis, facilitating the chemical reactions needed to decompose compounds into their constituent elements or ions.

The other options represent particles that do not move toward the anode during electrolysis. Negative ions (anions) are attracted to the cathode, where reduction occurs. Neutral molecules do not carry any charge and therefore do not have a direction of movement under the influence of an electric field during electrolysis. Non-reactive gases do not participate in this process, as they do not possess an ionic charge. Thus, the identification of positive ions as those that move towards the anode is an essential concept in understanding the principles of electrolysis.