CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

For 6L.7 C where do KOH(aq) and Ni(s) come from ? The half-reactions look like this:
Cd(OH)2(s)+2e- →Cd(s)+2OH^-(aq)
E°(anode)=-0.81V
Ni(OH)3(s)+e-→ Ni(OH)2(s)+OH^-(aq)
E°(cathode)=+0.49V

Cell Diagram: Cd(s)|Cd(OH)2(s)|KOH(aq)||Ni(OH)3(s)|NI(OH)2(s)|Ni(s)

The KOH is just another way of representing the presence of OH- ions at the anode. KOH will fully dissociate into K+ and OH- ions, so the K+ is a spectator ion and does not affect the reaction at the anode. If you were doing this experiment in a lab you would probably add OH- ions to the cell in the form of KOH. Ni is used as a metal electrode for the cathode since it requires a pure metal electrode even though the species are both solids.