Anode and cathode help please (1 Viewer)

[keeski]

can someone please explain to me in really basic terms why the anode is negative in a galvanic cell but positive in an electrolytic cell? I should add that I don't get electricity really so I don't really know what the negative means. Help would be much appreciated, thankyou!

 

[SunnyScience]

Isn't this the Shipwreck topic?

Galvanic makes electricity. Electrolysis uses it to break down compounds, so it would only make sense for them to be reversed.
It's positive in an electrolytic cell because this is where electrons are being taken and then transfered to cations at the cathode. And vice versa. Hope that helps somewhat .

 

[keeski]

Its in Industrial too..but don't the electrons flow in the same direction?