Anode v. Cathode

[Katelyn Pham 4E]

Why must anodes be on the left and cathodes on the right?

[2c_britneyly]

It's just convention so people can easily identify the anode and cathode. There's no scientific reason behind it.

[Dhwani Krishnan 1G]

what is the difference between an anode and cathode?

[Rimsha Hussaini 1A]

The anode is where electrical current flows in from outside and is the site of the oxidation half-reaction. The cathode where electrical current flows out and is the site of the reduction half-reaction.

[Gillian Murphy 2C]

what is the difference between an anode and cathode?

An anode is negatively charged and contains the oxidation part of a reaction, and electrons flow away from it
A cathode is positively charged and contains the reduction part of the reaction, and electrons flow towards it

[Samantha Chang 2K]

The anode and the cathode are deemed right and left just as a formality so you can tell where the reactions are taking place. An anode is the oxidation part of the reaction and the cathode contains the reduction part of the reaction.

[Sophie Roberts 1E]

One way to remember which (anode or cathode) is redox or oxidation is by using:
A RED CAT (redox--cathode)
AN OX (anode--oxidation)

[Karan Thaker 2L]

The way I think of it, is that the anode repels the negatively charged electrons since it is negatively charged (loss of electrons). The cathode attracts and receives the electrons (gain of electrons).

[A De Castro 14B 2H]

One way to remember the left-hand (anode) and right-hand (cathode) electrodes is the acronym AN OIL RIG CAT. This stands for Anode for Oxidation Is Losing elections, while Reduction Is Gaining elections in the Cathode.

[Zubair Ahmed 1L]

The anode is is usually placed on the left side while the cathode is placed on the right side. The anode oxidizes the material present and the cathode reduces the material present. Electrons flow away from the anode and into the cathode.