Answer to Question #185005 in General Chemistry for anureet

Question

I conducted a galvanic cell experiment and increased the concentration of the anode (Mg) and the cathode was kept at standard conditions. I am unsure about why the cell potential decreased as the concentration of the anode increased, like how does the anode differ from cathode in terms of producing cell potential?

Answer 1

The difference in potential energy between the anode and cathode dictates the direction of electronic movement. Electrons move from areas of higher potential energy to areas of lower potential energy. In this case, the anode has a higher potential energy; electrons therefore move from anode to cathode.