Anode
Last Updated: 4/30/19 by Neil Spinner
1Anode
In an electrochemical system,
Electrochemical System
the anode is the electrode
Electrode
at which oxidation
Oxidation
is occurring.
The terms anode and cathode
Cathode
are most frequently used in two-electrode systems,
Two-Electrode System
such as fuel cells
Fuel Cell
and batteries.
Battery
They are less commonly used in typical three-electrode systems.
Three-Electrode System
In the context of fuel cells and batteries, the anode is also sometimes called the negative electrode, and may be denoted with a minus sign. In the context of secondary (rechargeable) batteries where both the anode and cathode may alternatively undergo both oxidation and reduction
Reduction
(depending on whether the battery is being charged or discharged), the anode is defined as the electrode experiencing oxidation during discharge.