Electrode

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Electrode is a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance, or region. They are used in a wide range of applications, including but not limited to, electronics, chemistry, and medicine.

Overview[edit | edit source]

An Electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit (e.g. a semiconductor, an electrolyte, a vacuum or air). The word was coined by William Whewell at the request of the scientist Michael Faraday from two Greek words: elektron, meaning amber (from which the word electricity is derived), and hodos, a way.

Types of Electrodes[edit | edit source]

There are two types of electrodes: Anode and Cathode. The anode is positively charged, while the cathode is negatively charged.

Anode[edit | edit source]

The Anode is the electrode where oxidation (loss of electrons) takes place. In a galvanic cell, it is the negative electrode, as it is the electrode that provides electrons. In an electrolytic cell, it is the positive electrode.

Cathode[edit | edit source]

The Cathode is the electrode where reduction (gain of electrons) takes place. In a galvanic cell, it is the positive electrode, as it is the electrode that accepts electrons. In an electrolytic cell, it is the negative electrode.

Electrodes in Medicine[edit | edit source]

In medicine, electrodes are used in numerous ways, including in ECG machines to monitor heart activity, in EEG machines to monitor brain activity, and in ECT for treating mental disorders.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Electrode Resources

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD