How is electrode potential produced in metals placed in an electrolyte?

Electrode potential in metals placed in an electrolyte arises primarily through ionization, which involves the transfer of electrons from the metal to the electrolyte. When a metal is submerged in an electrolyte, certain atoms of the metal tend to lose electrons and form positive metal ions. This loss of electrons creates a difference in charge between the metal surface and the ionized species in the electrolyte, leading to the establishment of an electric potential, commonly known as electrode potential.

Ionization is fundamentally linked to the reactivity of the metal—more reactive metals tend to have a higher tendency to ionize, which contributes to the greater electrode potential observed. As the metal ions enter the solution, the removal of electrons from the metal surface enhances the electric field around the electrode, facilitating further ionization and maintaining the potential difference.

The other options do not accurately describe how electrode potential is produced. Thermal reaction refers to energy changes associated with temperature variations, chemical bonding involves the formation of stable compounds rather than potential differences, and electrical conductivity pertains to the ability of the material to conduct electricity once the potential exists, but it does not explain how the potential itself is generated. Thus, ionization is the most directly related process to the production of electrode potential in this scenario.