Electrode

An electrode is a conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit (e.g. a semiconductor, an electrolyte or a vacuum). The word was coined by the scientist Michael Faraday from the Greek words elektron (meaning amber, whence the word electricity is derived) and hodos, a way [1].

Table of contents 1 Anode vs. cathode in electrochemical cells 2 Other uses of anode and cathode 3 Types of electrode 4 References

Anode vs. cathode in electrochemical cells

An electrode in an electrochemical cell is referred to as either an anode or a cathode, words that were also coined by Faraday. The anode is defined as the electrode at which oxidation occurs, and the cathode is defined as the electrode at which reduction occurs. Each electrode may become either the anode or the cathode depending on the type of reaction occurring in the cell.

A primary cell[?] is a special type of electrochemical cell in which the reaction cannot be reversed, and the identities of the anode and cathode are therefore fixed. It can be discharged but not recharged. The anode is always the negative (-) electrode and the cathode always the positive (+).

A secondary cell, for example a rechargeable battery, is one in which the reaction is reversible. When the cell is being charged, the anode becomes the positive (+) electrode and the cathode the negative (-). This is also the case in an electrolytic cell[?]. When the cell is being discharged, it behaves like a primary or voltaic[?] cell, with the anode as the negative electrode and the cathode as the positive.

Also need to mention anode and cathode in cathodic protection

Other uses of anode and cathode

In a vacuum tube or a semiconductor having polarity (diodes, electrolytic capacitors[?]) the anode is the positive (+) electrode and the cathode the negative (-).

Types of electrode

• Electrodes for medical purposes, such as EEG, EKG, ECT
• etc.

See also:

• battery
• redox
• cathodic protection
• Galvanic cell
• anion vs. cation
• electron vs. hole
• electrolyte

References Michael Faraday, "On Electrical Decomposition (http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/Chem-History/Faraday-electrochem)", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1834 (in which Faraday coins the words electrode, anode, cathode, anion, cation, electrolyte, electrolyze).