Suppose a powerful battery is connected between a pair of inert graphite electrodes dipped into a pot of molten zinc chloride (see sketch at right).

The electrode A is a cathode. This is because it is negatively charged electrode and it attracts cations, or we can say it is positively charged.

The reaction occurs at the cathode

Zn2 + + 2e⇒Zn

Anode reaction is

2CL - ⇒CL2+2e-

The overall reaction will be Zncl2 (l) which completely disassociates then it is zn∧2 + (l) + 2cl∧ - (l).