Question

Why is copper positive and zinc negative?

Answer 1

Answer:

Copper is slightly more electronegative than zinc*. Thus, if you put the two metals next to each other (or if you connect them by a wire), some electrons will move from the zinc to the copper. Because the positive pole tends to accumulate negative charges from the electrons, it also tends to attract positive ions.

Answer 2

Explanation:

copper positive

• Each copper atom has lost one electron and become a positive ion. So copper is a lattice of positive copper ions with free electrons moving between them. (The electrons are a bit like the particles of a gas that is free to move within the surfaces of the wire). The electrons can move freely through the metal.

zinc negative

• The zinc anode gradually diminishes as the cell operates due to the loss of zinc metal. The zinc ion concentration in the half-cell increases. Because of the production of electrons at the anode, it is labeled as the negative electrode.