Defining Cathodes and Anodes through standard cell potential

[PeterTran1C]

Just to confirm. When comparing a species couple, to determine which would be the anode and which would be the cathode, the higher/more positive standard potential would represent the cathode while the lower/more negative standard potential would represent the anode.

[Cynthia Tsang]

Yep!

[Daniisaacson2F]

Yes you can do it like that, but not all the time. In an electrolytic cell, the potential is supposed to be negative; so, if you did it like you said, then you would mix them up because you are solving for the standard potential to be negative. It is a more safe bet to look at the overall reaction and [censored] whether the ion is being oxidized or reduced and go from there.