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Flow of Current
The anode and cathode are defined by the flow of current. In the general sense, current refers to
any movement of electrical charge. However, you should keep in mind the convention that
current direction is according to where a positive charge would move, not a negative charge.
So, if electrons do the actual moving in a cell, then current runs the opposite direction. Why is it
defined this way? Who knows, but that's the standard. Current flows in the same direction as
positive charge carriers, for example, when positive ions or protons carry the charge. Current
flows opposite the direction of negative charge carriers, such as electrons in metals.
Cathode
Anode
Remember, charge can flow either from positive to negative or from negative to positive!
Because of this, the anode could be positively charged or negatively charged, depending on the
situation.
Remember the cathode attracts cations or the cathode attracts + charge. The anode attracts
negative charge.