Sciencemadness Discussion Board

which terminal is the cathode

science_guy1 - 29-4-2013 at 04:02

i see two different definitions for a cathode. in a cathode ray electrons flow from the cathode to the anode. in a galvanic cell electrons flow from the anode to the cathode. am i missing something or are there two opposite definitions?

elementcollector1 - 29-4-2013 at 05:18

The thing you're missing is that the electrons run the opposite way for each device (galvanic gives off electrons, cathode ray and electrolytic cells intake electrons).

DraconicAcid - 29-4-2013 at 08:47

The Cathode is where reduCtion takes place.
OxidAtion takes place at the Anode.

Endimion17 - 29-4-2013 at 09:21

or, even simpler mnemonic device:

cathode - reduction (consonants)
anode - oxidation (vowels)

BromicAcid - 29-4-2013 at 13:34

These are the two I fall back on most of the time.

RedCat - Reduction occurs at the Cathode

OILRIG - Oxidation involves loss, reduction involves gain (of electrons)

Fantasma4500 - 30-4-2013 at 05:47

not sure if this is what youre asking for, but i remember anode and cathode as A+ as the grade A+ (Anode is plus, +) where cathode is the opposite (-)
the positively charged metal ions will go to the negative end (opposites attract) aswell as hydrogen

if you run electrolysis through water it should be easy to see as theres much much more hydrogen formed than oxygen, also bubbles rise faster due to less gravitational weight and many times lower density than oxygen (16 times less)