Galvanic cell set up

[Maria Bajenov 1I]

Since a galvanic cell corresponds to a spontaneous reaction, is the left side of the cell diagram always the anode?

[Manvir2K]

The left side is always there anode for a galvanic cell.

[Tia Tomescu 2D]

To add on to that, in real life situations the left might not be the anode, it is just standardized like so in textbooks so that it is easier to comprehend.

[Rohan Chaudhari- 1K]

It's usually on the left, but you can write it on the right.

[Jason Liu 1C]

Usually the cathode is on the right in a cell diagram, but you should find the standard potentials of each half reaction to make sure. The reaction with the more positive standard potential will be the cathode.

[Rachel Formaker 1E]

Since the reactions in Galvanic cells are spontaneous and E^o_cell = E^o_cathode - E^o_anode, the reaction with the more positive (or less negative) standard reduction potential should be at the cathode so that E^o_cell > 0.

[Erik Khong 2E]

Yes, in the textbook it says that Reduction, which is the cathode, is Right to maintain clarity.

[Ridhi Ravichandran 1E]

Yes, in order to make the overall cell potential positive (which is what we want for a galvanic cell), the anode needs to be on the left and cathode needs to be on the right.

[Scott Chin_1E]

But in a case in which you were unsure, you can always refer to the written reaction to determine which reactant is being oxidized and which is being reduced. This will help you find out which side is the anode or cathode ("redcat").