This is the only fundamental difference between anelectrolytic cell and the galvanic cell in which the free energy supplied by the cell reaction is extracted as work done on the surroundings. A common misconception about electrolysis is that "ions are attracted to the oppositely-charged electrode."...

Electrolysis:
Electrolysis is the process of using an electric current to decompose a compound into its constituent elements. It is a non-spontaneous redox reaction that requires energy input from an external source such as a battery or power supply. During electrolysis, the compound is dissolved in a suitable solvent and two electrodes - anode and cathode - are inserted into the solution. The anode is the positively charged electrode, while the cathode is the negatively charged electrode. As the electric current flows through the solution, cations (positively charged ions) move towards the cathode, while anions (negatively charged ions) move towards the anode. At the electrodes, the ions undergo reduction and oxidation reactions respectively, leading to the formation of new compounds.

Electrolytic Reduction:
Electrolytic reduction is a specific type of electrolysis in which a metal ion is reduced at the cathode to form a metal atom. It is used to extract metals from their ores or purify them from impurities. During electrolytic reduction, a molten or dissolved salt of the metal is used as the electrolyte, and the cathode is made of the metal or a suitable material that can reduce the metal ion. The anode is made of an inert material that does not react with the electrolyte. As the electric current flows through the electrolyte, metal cations move towards the cathode and are reduced to form metal atoms. At the anode, the metal atoms lose electrons and are oxidized to form metal cations that dissolve in the electrolyte.

Differences:
- Electrolysis is a general term that refers to the process of using an electric current to decompose a compound, while electrolytic reduction is a specific type of electrolysis that involves the reduction of a metal ion to form a metal atom.
- Electrolysis can be used for a wide range of applications, such as electroplating, electrolytic refining, and electrochemical synthesis, while electrolytic reduction is mainly used for extracting or purifying metals.
- Electrolysis can involve a variety of electrolytes and electrodes, while electrolytic reduction typically uses a molten or dissolved salt of the metal as the electrolyte and the metal itself as the cathode.
- Electrolysis can lead to the formation of various compounds at the electrodes, while electrolytic reduction only forms metal atoms at the cathode.