Cathode (Noun)
Meaning 1
The positively charged terminal of a voltaic cell or storage battery that supplies current.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The cathode is the electrode where reduction occurs, and it is typically connected to the positive terminal of the external circuit.
- In a voltaic cell, the cathode is where the oxidizing agent gains electrons from the external circuit.
- A battery's cathode can lose its potency over time due to degradation of the material it is made of.
- The position of the cathode relative to the anode determines the polarity of the voltaic cell.
- At the cathode, positively charged ions in the electrolyte lose electrons to the outer circuit.
Antonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
A negatively charged electrode that is the source of electrons entering an electrical device.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The cathode is made of a tungsten filament coated with a material that enhances electron emission in the fluorescent light bulb.
- In an x-ray tube, the cathode is heated to produce electrons that then accelerate toward the anode.
- An electron gun typically includes a cathode as the source of electrons that are then accelerated to form an electron beam.
- The cathode ray tube uses multiple cathodes to generate separate electron beams for red, green, and blue phosphors.
- The cathode in an electrolysis cell can induce oxidation reactions that help break down the electrolyte.