Oxidation takes place at the anode. Reduction takes place at the cathode. Oxidation takes place on the left and recution takes place on the right.
The standard cell notation for an electrolytic cell with alumium and gold electrodes:
[tex]Al(s)\lbrack Al^{3+}(aq)\parallel Au^+(aq)]Au(s)[/tex]
To determine which metal undergoes oxidation and which undergoes reduction we use the standard cell potentetial of the metals. Au is the stronger oxidising agent of the two and so it is likely to undergo reduction and so the Al will undergo oxidation.
Answer: A
