Cathode
Cathode
A cathode is one of the two electrodes used either in a vacuum tube or in an electrochemical cell. An electrode is the part (pole) of a vacuum tube or cell through which electricity moves into or out of the system. The other pole of the system is referred to as the anode.
Vacuum tubes
A vacuum tube is a hollow glass cylinder from which as much air as possible has been removed. In a vacuum tube, the cathode is the negative electrode. It has more electrons on its surface than does the other electrode, the anode. Electrons can accumulate on the surface of a cathode for various reasons. For example, in some vacuum tubes, the cathode is heated to a high temperature to remove electrons from atoms that make up the cathode. The free electrons are then able to travel from the cathode to the anode. These streams of electrons are known as cathode rays, and the tubes in which they are produced are called cathode-ray tubes (CRTs). CRTs are widely used as oscilloscopes (which measure changes in electrical voltage over time), television tubes, and computer monitors.
Electrochemical cells
Electrochemical cells are devices for turning chemical energy into electrical energy or, alternatively, changing electrical energy into chemical energy. Electrochemical cells are of two types: voltaic cells (also called galvanic cells) and electrolytic cells. In a voltaic or galvanic cell, electrical energy is produced as the result of a chemical reaction between two different metals immersed in a (usually) water solution. The differing tendency of the two metals to gain and lose electrons causes an electric current to flow through an external wire connecting the two metals. The cathode is defined in a system of this type as the metal at which electrons are being taken up from the external wire. In contrast, the anode is the point at which electrons are being given up to the external wire.
Practical applications
Cathodes are used in many practical applications. For example, electroplating is a process by which a layer of pure metal can be deposited on a base used as the cathode. Suppose that a spoon composed of iron is made the cathode in an electrochemical cell that also contains an anode made of silver metal and a solution of silver nitrate. In this cell, silver atoms lose electrons that travel through an external circuit to the cathode. At the cathode, the electrons combine with silver ions in the solution to form silver atoms. These silver atoms plate out on the surface of the iron spoon, giving it a coating of silver metal. The plain iron spoon soon develops a shiny silver surface. It looks more attractive and is less likely to rust than the original iron spoon.
[See also Cathode-ray tube; Cell, electrochemical; Vacuum tube ]
Cathode
Cathode
The cathode is one of two electrodes that are present in any system in which electricity is entering and leaving a region; the other electrode is called the anode. The electric current enters through one of the electrodes and leaves through the other. Both vacuum tubes (also called gas discharge tubes) and electrochemical cells use electrodes.
In a vacuum tube, the cathode is the negative electrode, which carries a negative potential with respect to the other. The cathode is often heated to drive out electrons, which then fly through the vacuum toward the positive electrode, or anode. These streams of electrons are referred to as cathode rays. Cathode ray tubes are vacuum tubes that are widely used as oscilloscopes, television tubes, and computer monitors.
There are two types of electrochemical cells: voltaic or galvanic cells, and electrolytic cells. In a galvanic cell, such as an automobilebattery, an electric current is produced by a chemical oxidation-reduction reaction. In an electrolytic cell, such as one designed for the electrolysis of water, the oxidation-reduction reaction is produced by an externally supplied electric current. In either case, the cathode is the electrode at which chemical reduction is taking place—that is, the electrode at which electrons are being taken up by atoms, molecules, or ions. The anode, on the other hand, is the electrode at which the oxidation process is taking place—that is, the electrode at which electrons are being given off by atoms, molecules, or ions.
See also Cathode ray tube.
Cathode
Cathode
The cathode is one of the two electrodes that are present in any system in which electricity is entering and leaving a region; the other electrode is called the anode . The electric current enters through one of the electrodes and leaves through the other.
Two general kinds of systems employ electrodes: vacuum tubes (also called gas discharge tubes) and electrochemical cells.
In a vacuum tube , the cathode is the negative electrode-the electrode that carries a negative potential with respect to the other one. The cathode is often heated to drive out electrons, which then fly through the vacuum toward the positive electrode, the anode. These streams of electrons are referred to as cathode rays. Cathode ray tubes are vacuum tubes that are widely used as oscilloscopes, television tubes, and computer monitors.
Electrochemical cells are of two types: voltaic cells (also called galvanic cells) and electrolytic cells. In a galvanic cell, such as an automobile battery , an electric current is produced by a chemical oxidation-reduction reaction . In an electrolytic cell, such as a cell designed for the electrolysis of water , the chemical oxidation-reduction reaction is produced by an externally-supplied electric current. In either case, the cathode is defined as the electrode at which the chemical reduction process is taking place in the cell—that is, the electrode at which electrons are being taken up by atoms , molecules, or ions. The anode, on the other hand, is the electrode at which the oxidation process is taking place—that is, the electrode at which electrons are being given off by atoms, molecules, or ions.
See also Cathode ray tube.
cathode
cath·ode / ˈka[unvoicedth]ˌōd/ • n. the negatively charged electrode by which electrons enter an electrical device. The opposite of anode. ∎ the positively charged electrode of an electrical device, such as a primary cell, that supplies current.DERIVATIVES: cath·o·dal / ˈka[unvoicedth]ˌōdl/ adj.ca·thod·ic / kaˈ[unvoicedth]ädik/ adj.