In galvanic cell what happens at cathodea.reductionb.oxidationc.redox reactiond.displacement reaction

In a galvanic cell, the cathode is the electrode where reduction occurs. This is because the cathode is where electrons are gained, leading to a decrease in oxidation state of the chemical species involved.

Key Points:

1. Reduction at Cathode: The cathode is specifically designated for the reduction half-reaction. This means that the chemical species here receives electrons and thus undergoes a reduction, as opposed to oxidation, which occurs at the anode.

2. Oxidation vs. Reduction: While the anode is where oxidation takes place (loss of electrons), the cathode will always be the site of reduction (gain of electrons). This distinction is crucial for understanding the functioning of galvanic cells.

3. Electrochemical Reactions: The overall reaction in a galvanic cell can be described as a redox (reduction-oxidation) reaction, which encapsulates both oxidation at the anode and reduction at the cathode.

4. Example of Reduction: For instance, in a common galvanic cell using copper and zinc, at the cathode (-), copper ions gain electrons and get reduced to copper metal.

Final Answer

a. reduction is what occurs at the cathode in a galvanic cell.