Where is the oxidation half reaction located in cell notation?

In cell notation, the oxidation half-reaction is conventionally placed on the left side. This is because cell notation is used to represent galvanic and electrolytic cells, where the left side corresponds to the anode, the site of oxidation. In this context, oxidation is the process where a species loses electrons, leading to an increase in its oxidation state.

The standardized format of cell notation is: anode | anode solution || cathode solution | cathode. The oxidation occurs at the anode, thus positioning it on the left side explicitly indicates that this is where the electrons are being released into the circuit. The electrons move from the anode (where oxidation takes place) to the cathode (where reduction occurs), clearly demarcating the flow of the redox reaction.

This notation is crucial for understanding and communicating the workings of electrochemical cells effectively, and it highlights the roles that different components play in the overall reaction.