Battery (All): Terminology: Electrode

An electrode is the place where the chemical reactions during discharge and charge take place. A cell consists of at least one positive and one negative electrode. During discharge, lead oxide is converted to lead sulfate at the positive electrode. At the negative electrode, porous lead is converted to lead sulfate. During charging, the reactions are in the opposite direction; lead dioxide and porous lead are reformed. Electrodes also transport current. In a battery, the electrodes are normally called plates.