CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

I understand that the anode is on the right side of the cell diagram, and that the cathode is on the left side of the cell diagram, but does the order of the molecules within the anode or cathode matter for the diagram?

To write a cell diagram, the anode of the reaction actually goes on the left and the cathode half on the right! And then the order of the molecules does not particularly matter, but they are split up by vertical lines by into groups of the same phase. i.e. The solids together, liquids together, gases together, etc. Although the particular order does not matter, in class Dr. Lavelle's general pattern was as follows:
Anode Solid|Anode Product||Cathode Reactant|Cathode Solid
Hope this helped!

The electrode (inert conductor) should sandwich the molecules being oxidized and reduced, but other than that the order of the molecules within the anode and cathode does not matter. It's important to know where to put the lines that separate the molecules- draw a line when the molecules are in different states but in contact, and use a comma when two molecules are in the same state (they're often both in solution).

Very helpful! Thanks!