What is the Electrode? What does it do?

Electrode; They are metal (conductive) parts that are mostly immersed in an electrolytic or placed in a gaseous electric discharge tube used in the transmission of electric current.

 

Depending on the purpose of use, they can be in the form of a flat plate as well as a sphere, a ring or a very thin cylinder (needle). The electrodes, which ensure the continuous movement of the electric charges that occur in their environment, thus act as the poles of a generator in the transmission of the electric current. (-) marked electrode cathode; The electrode marked with (+) is called anode. Therefore, cathode, (+) charged ions (cation) formed in the environment; the anode attracts (-) charged ions (anion). To transmit current, two electrodes with opposite signs must be properly placed. Welding electrodes are also metal rods that are treated separately. The piece of metal to be welded forms the other electrode. Due to the large electrical voltage between the two electrodes, the electric current passes in the form of a spark jump (arc), and as a result, the electrical energy turns into high heat energy and melts the metal and electrode.