What is the anode in an electrochemical cell?

• A. The electrolyte
• B. The metallic path
• C. The place where electrons are consumed
• D. The place where metal is lost and electrons are produced

Answer: (D)

Oxidation occurs at the anode, so metal atoms lose electrons and form ions at that site. Those electrons then travel through the external circuit to the cathode. In corrosion terms, the anode is the region where metal is dissolved, meaning it’s where metal is lost and electrons are produced. The electrolyte is just the conducting solution, not an electrode. The metallic path is the external conductor that carries electrons, not the site of oxidation. The place where electrons are consumed is the cathode, where reduction happens.