Which side of the cell notation represents the anode?

In electrochemical cells, the anode is the electrode where oxidation occurs, which means that electrons are released from the substance. The standard convention for cell notation states that the anode is placed on the left side of the cell notation, while the cathode, where reduction takes place, is placed on the right side.

In practical terms, for a galvanic cell, the left side includes the oxidized form of the species in contact with a solid conductor, and the right side includes the reduced form along with its corresponding solid conductor. This arrangement helps delineate the flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode in the external circuit, reflecting the path of oxidation at the anode and reduction at the cathode. Thus, the left side of the cell notation always indicates the anode, which is why this answer is correct.