Notable Differences Between Anode and Cathode You didn’t Notice

Filed in Articles by on April 20, 2021

Difference Between Anode and Cathode: Anode and cathode are terminologies used to refer to terminals of a polarized electrical device. They are simply the positive and negative terminal of the battery. The cathode is a negatively charged electrode while the anode is a positively charged electrode.

The anode is the electrode where electricity flows into. On the other hand, the cathode is the electrode where the electricity flows out.

In general, the anode is the terminal where the (conventional) current flows into a device from outside, whereas the cathode is the terminal where the (conventional) current flows out of the device.

What is an Anode?

The anode is the type of electrode in the electric device that usually works as the positively charged terminal. In an anode, the current flows into the device from outside, although when both the electrodes work in reverse polarity the sequence may not remain the same.

In a galvanic cell, the anode is the electrode in which the current flows into the device; therefore it is the negative terminal, although, in an electrolytic cell, the anode is the electrode in which current flows from the external generator to the anode, that is why it is the positive terminal in this case.

The anode is the source of positive charge in the electric device that attracts the negative charge or anion or works as an electron acceptor.

Characteristics:

  • It is the positively charged electrode.
  • The anode attracts electrons or anions.
  • It may be a source of positive charge or an electron acceptor.

What is Cathode?

A cathode is the type of electrode in the electric device that usually works as the negatively charged terminal. In the cathode, the current flows out of a device that means electrons flow into this terminal from the outside.

The cathode’s current flow in the electric circuit with respect to the anode can either be positive or negative. It attracts the positively charged cations, whereas the negatively charged anions stay away from it.

In a device like a battery that takes the energy, the cathode works as the negative electrode, whereas in a device like discharging battery which provides the energy, the cathode works as the positive electrode.

It would be kept mentioned here that the electrode is the conductors through which electric current enters or leaves the device. Generally, the flow of electrons is always from anode to cathode, regardless of the device type and operating mode.

Characteristics:

  • It is the negatively charged electrode.
  • it attracts cations or positive charge.
  • The cathode is the source of electrons or an electron donor. It may accept a positive charge.

Because the cathode may generate electrons, which typically are the electrical species doing the actual movement, it may be said that cathodes generate charge or that current moves from the cathode to the anode. This can be confusing because the direction of the current would be defined by the way a positive charge would move. Just remember, any movement of charged particles is current.

Distinctions Between Anode and Cathode

1. Anode and cathode are simply the positive and negative terminals of the battery.

2. The anode is the electrode where the electricity flows into it.

3. The cathode is the electrode where the electricity flows out of it.

4. Cathode is electricity flow out the electrode. It has a large number of electrons.

5. In an anode the current flows into the device from outside, whereas in a cathode the current flows out of a device that means electrons flow into this terminal from the outside.

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CSN Team.

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