If an electode reaction has dssolved oxygen as a reactant, is the electrode an anode or a cathode?

Answer 1

Given that reduction is most likely occurring at that electrode, the electrode is most likely a cathode.

Elemental oxygen has a 0 oxidation number since #O_2# is a free element. If it is a reactant, there is probably a product containing O. Most compounds containing oxygen have that element in a -2 oxidation state. We can say that oxygen is being reduced, as the element goes from 0 to -2 oxidation state. Reduction always occurs at the cathode in an electrochemical cell.

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Answer 2

Xavier Avery

If dissolved oxygen is a reactant in an electrode reaction, the electrode is typically the cathode.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.