Question

What is anode in a galvanic cell considered to be negative and cathode to be a positive electrode?

Answer 1

Hint: Galvanic cell is a type of electrochemical cell which converts chemical energy into electrical energy. In this, a redox reaction occurs between an oxidant and reductant. Oxidation occurs at anode and reduction occurs at cathode.

Complete step by step answer:
Let us start by discussing some basics about a galvanic cell.
Galvanic cells are also known as Voltaic cells. Galvanic cell is a type of electrochemical cell. It converts chemical energy of a spontaneous redox reaction into electrical energy.
The redox reactions involved in this are spontaneous, hence, they have a negative Gibbs energy.
This cell consists of two half cells and a salt bridge. The half-cells are made up of metals, which are dipped into an electrolyte. The half-cells are connected to a voltmeter and an electric switch, which is connected externally with the help of metallic wires. One electrode is anode, another is cathode.
Anode – Oxidation (loss of electrons)
Cathode – Reduction
Anode has a positive potential as it is connected to the positive terminal of the cell. Being positive, it attracts the anions present in the cell which accumulate around the anode, hence making it negative.
Cathode has a negative potential, the positive ions are reduced to metal and therefore, this electrode is the positive electrode in a galvanic cell.

Additional Information:
A common household battery used in clocks, remotes, etc. is an example of a galvanic cell.

Note: Daniel’s cell is an example of a galvanic cell. It is made by immersing the cathode and anode in a solution of sulfuric acid. In this, copper ions are reduced at cathode and zinc is oxidized at anode. The reactions can be represented as –
At cathode: \[C{{u}^{2+}}+2{{e}^{-}}\to Cu\]
At anode: \[Zn\to Z{{n}^{2+}}+2{{e}^{-}}\]