18WuD2x

electrobath • electrode efficiency 237
electrobath A solution in which ELECTRO-
PHORESIS or ELECTROPLATING is done.
electrobiology Biology concerned with electrical
phenomena in living organisms.
electrobioscopy The examination of a body for viability
by inducing muscular contractions with
an electrical impulse.
electrocapillarity The production of capillary effects
by means of electricity. See, for example,
CAPILLARY ELECTROMETER.
electrocardiogram Abbreviation, ECG or EKG. A
record made by an electrocardiograph of the
changes in potential caused by the heartbeat;
used as a diagnostic aid.
electrocardiograph An instrument that records
changes in electrical potential caused by the
heartbeat.
electrocardiophonograph A medical instrument
that detects and records the impulses of the
heart.
electrocatalysis Catalytic action produced by
electricity (see CATALYSIS).
electrocautery 1. In medicine, a cauterizing instrument
consisting essentially of a platinum
wire (at the tip of an insulated probe) that is
heated by an electric current. Also see ELECTRIC
NEEDLE. 2. Cauterizing with an electrocautery.
electrochemical deterioration An electrochemical
reaction that results in the permanent or temporary
failure of a device.
electrochemical diffused-collector transistor A
high-current pnp transistor in which metal has
replaced the etched-away mass of p material,
providing a built-in heatsink.
electrochemical equivalent In electrolysis or electroplating,
a constant (Z ) for the metal in plates.
For a given metal, Z is the mass (in grams) of the
metal deposited by 1 coulomb of electricity.
electrochemical junction transistor See SUR-
FACE-BARRIER TRANSISTOR.
electrochemical measurements 1. Measurements
made on chemical substances with electrical instruments
to determine such factors as conductivity,
pH, dielectric strength, dielectric constant,
etc. 2. Measurements of electrical or electronic
phenomena in terms of electrochemical response
(e.g., current drain in terms of weight of plated
metal, or voltage in terms of gas breakdown).
electrochemical polarization The disabling of a
primary cell caused by gas products deposited
around or on one of the electrodes.
electrochemical recording See ELECTRIC RE-
CORDING.
electrochemical reduction Extracting a metal
from a compound by means of electrolysis.
electrochemical series See ELECTROMOTIVE
SERIES.
electrochemical switch A static, ionic alternating-current
(ac) switch consisting of an anode,
cathode, and a control electrode, all immersed in
an electrolyte. A positive control-electrode voltage
switches the device on, initiating ion current from
anode to cathode through the liquid.
electrochemical transducer A transducer that
converts chemical changes into electrical quantities,
or vice versa. Examples: soil-acidity probe
and electrolytic elapsed-time meter.
electrochemistry The branch of chemistry, overlapping
with physics, concerned with chemical
action arising from the effect of electricity on substances,
and electrical effects produced by chemical
action.
electrochromic display A display that operates by
means of electric fields, which control the lighttransmission
and light-reflection characteristics
in different regions of the material.
electrochronometer A precision electric or electronic
clock. Also see ELECTRIC CLOCK and
ELECTRONIC CLOCK.
electrocoagulation Use of a high-frequency alternating
current to solidify tissue, as in arresting
bleeding.
electrocorticogram See ELECTROENCEPHALO-
GRAM.
electroculture Acceleration or modification of
plant growth through the application of electricity
to plants, seeds, or soil.
electrocution 1. Death resulting from electric
shock. 2. An electric shock inflicted for the purpose
of causing death (e.g., in an ELECTRIC CHAIR).
electrode A body, point, or terminal in a device or
circuit that delivers electricity, or to which electricity
is applied. A positive electrode is usually
an ANODE; a negative electrode is usually a
CATHODE.
electrode admittance The admittance encountered
by current flowing through an electrode; the
property is entirely that of the electrode and is the
reciprocal of ELECTRODE IMPEDANCE. Consists
of a real-number component (ELECTRODE
CONDUCTANCE) and an imaginary-number
component that is 90 degrees out of phase
(ELECTRODE SUSCEPTANCE).
electrode capacitance The capacitance between
an electrode and a reference body, such as
ground or another electrode.
electrode characteristic The mathematical function
or graph of electrode current versus electrode
voltage.
electrode conductance The conductance encountered
by current flowing through an electrode; the
property is entirely that of the electrode and is the
reciprocal of ELECTRODE RESISTANCE.
electrode current Current entering or leaving an
electrode.
electrode dark current See DARK CURRENT.
electrode dissipation The power lost in the form
of heat in an electrode.
electrode drop Voltage drop resulting from ELEC-
TRODE RESISTANCE.
electrode efficiency In an electrolytic cell, the ratio
of the yield of metal deposited to the maximum