Question

State the difference between the negative electrode and the positive electrode.

Answer 1

Cathode is negative electrode and here reduction of elements takes place. On the other hand, anode is a positive electrode and oxidation reaction takes place at anode.

Complete step-by-step answer: A battery is a device which stores energy in form of chemical energy and changes it to electrical energy. For this, the battery has a positive terminal and negative terminal and electrolyte is the chemical solution which surrounds the anode and cathode. An electrode is made up of metal as metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. An electron is transferred from negative terminal to positive terminal but on the other hand current flows from positive terminal to negative terminal.

| Cathode| | Anode
---|---|---|---
1| The positive terminal of the battery is called a cathode.| 1| The negative terminal of a battery is called its anode.
2| Current flows from cathode to anode.| 2| Electrons travel from anode to cathode.
3| Here, reduction of elements takes place.| 3| Here, oxidation of elements takes place.
4| As cathode attracts positive charged species and reduces them, so we can say it acts as a source of electron.| 4| Anode attracts negatively charged ions towards itself and withdraws their extra electron and thus, either neutralizes or oxidises them to cations.
5| In electrochemical cells, cathode is positive, but in electrolytic cells, cathode is negative.| 5| In electrochemical cells, anode is negative, but in electrolytic cells, anode is positive.

Note: An electrochemical cell is a device that can generate electrical energy from the chemical energy. Examples of electrochemical cells are the cells used in TV remote and appliances. On the other hand, an electrolytic cell is a device which can convert electrical energy to chemical energy.