cathode etymology

Etymology:

The word "cathode" is derived from the Greek word "kathodos," which means "downward path."

Meaning:

In electrical and electrochemical contexts, a cathode is an electrode that is connected to the negative terminal of an electrical circuit or a battery.

Origin:

The term "cathode" was first used in 1834 by the English physicist William Whewell. Whewell coined the term to describe the electrode at which positive ions (cations) migrate towards in an electrolytic cell.

Explanation:

In an electrolytic cell, an electric current is passed through a solution containing ions. Positive ions (cations) move towards the negative electrode (cathode), while negative ions (anions) move towards the positive electrode (anode).

At the cathode, cations gain electrons and are reduced, while at the anode, anions lose electrons and are oxidized. The direction of ion movement and the reduction-oxidation reactions that occur at the cathode and anode depend on the specific electrochemical system.

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