Question

In an electrochemical cell, Anode and Cathode are ________.
(A) Positively and negatively charged ions
(B) Positively and negatively charged electrodes
(C) Negatively and positively charged electrodes
(D) Negatively and positively charged ions

Answer 1

Hint:
Oxidation reactions always occur at anode and reduction reactions always occur at cathode. Oxidation reactions release electrons as product and reduction reactions take up electrons as reactants.

Complete answer:
We all know that in electrochemical cells, anode and cathode are the electrodes.
- Electrodes provide the ions in the solution the surface for the reaction to occur.
- Positively charged ions are known as cations and negatively charged ions are known as anions.
Let’s see what is cathode and what is anode. Depending upon which reaction occurs, anode and cathode are classified.
- Cathode is an electrode where reduction reactions occur.
- The electrode where oxidation reactions occur, is called anode.
- It is obvious that electrons are released in the process of oxidation, so electrons will be there on anode in high amounts and so anode will be negatively charged.
- At cathode, reduction reactions occur and as reduction reaction requires electrons, the cathode will always have roughly no concentration of electrons on itself. So, it is positively charged.
So, correct answer for this question is (C) Negatively and positively charged electrodes

Additional Information:
- Electrode provides surface for the ions in the solution to do reactions and electrodes are connected with some device that takes or uses the electric energy.
- Electrodes(anodes or cathodes) can be solid or gaseous. Mostly we see metal plates as anode or cathodes.

Note:
Do not label anode as positive electrode and cathode as negative electrode as oxidation reactions occur at anode and reduction reactions occur at cathodes. The availability of electrons decides the charge on the electrode. Distinguish anode and cathode from anions and cations properly as they are often confusing.