What happens at the anode and the cathode of an electrochemical cell? Why do electrons flow from the anode to the cathode?

An electrochemical cell is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy by generating potential difference through the eletrodes. It is composed of various units like the anode, cathode, salt bridge, voltmeter etc.

At the anode, the negative electrode at which the oxidation half-reaction occurs, that is the positive ions are reduced.

At the cathode, the positive electrode at which the reduction half-reaction occurs.

Example of an Ionic equation;

At the cathode (Reduction),

Y + (aq) + e - - -> Y (aq)

At the anode (Oxidation),

Z - (aq) - -> Z (aq) + e-

B.

Electrons always flow from the anode (negative electrode) to the cathode (positive electrode) or from the oxidation half cell to the reduction half cell, as ssen in the illustrative example above.

In terms of E°cell of the half reactions, the electrons will flow from the more negative half reaction to the more positive half reaction.