Anode vs Cathode
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Anode vs Cathode
When given a galvanic cell, how do you determine which is the anode and which is the cathode? Is it just based on the anode being written on the left side and cathode being written on the right?
Re: Anode vs Cathode
Typically, yes, the anode would be written on the left of the salt bridge and the cathode would be written on the right. Assuming the question provided you with the cell diagram.
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
The galvanic diagram should be always be shown with the anode on the left and cathode on the right.
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
You can also examine the reactions happening at the electrodes. The oxidation reaction happens at the anode and the reduction reaction happens at the cathode. If it is still unclear, you can also check reduction potential, in the sense that E has to be positive for the galvanic cell to work spontaneously.
Re: Anode vs Cathode
Convention is for the anode to be written on the left side and the cathode written on the right side, hence why Enaught(cell)=E(right)-E(left). As mentioned above, you can always check to see what reaction is happening where, since oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction occurs at the cathode
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
how do you determine it based on the cell potentials? especially if the values are similar?
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
Leslie Almaraz 4G wrote:how do you determine it based on the cell potentials? especially if the values are similar?
I believe that we should then check the formula sheet or appendix, and choose the substance with more positive reduction potential as the cathode. I think there should always be a difference that is not too small.
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
Fundamentally, oxidation happens at the anode and reduction happens at the cathode. In terms of writing it out, you typically include the anode on the left and the cathode on the right.
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
If you were given an image then I heard that typically the left side is the anode (oxidation) and the right side is cathode (reduction). In a cell diagram , the oxidation is always written on the left side and the reduction is always on the right. You can also look at the half reactions to determine which one is which if you are given them.
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
One of the UAs mentioned how we should not always rely on the anode to be on the left side and the cathode on the right side because it is possible for them to be switched. It would be more important for you to look at the given reaction and determine from there whether its a reduction (anode) or oxidation (cathode) and then look at the image that contains the electrodes.
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
Yes, the anode is written on the left side and it is the one being oxidized. An easy way to remember this is “an ox” (anode oxidized) and “red cat” (cathode reduced).
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
The anode is pretty much always going to be on the left side of the salt bridge while the cathode will be on the right.
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
There is no left or right in determining what an anode or cathode is. You should know that the anode is the part where things get oxidized and the cathode is the part where things get reduced. They may try to trick you on the test by switching the positions of the anode and cathode.
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
During discussion, my TA would tell us which one was the anode and which was the cathode. I think it is based off of left and right usually though.
Re: Anode vs Cathode
usually anode will be to the left and the cathode will be to the right. Also oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction happens at the cathode
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Re: Anode vs Cathode
Bryce Barbee wrote:During discussion, my TA would tell us which one was the anode and which was the cathode. I think it is based off of left and right usually though.
My TA also would tell us which one was the anode and which one was the cathode.
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