William Whewell to Faraday   6 May 1834

Trin. Coll. Cambridge. May 6. 1834

My dear Sir,

You will have received my letter of yesterday¹ and perhaps will have formed your opinion of it. I still think anode and cathode the best terms beyond com‑parison for the two electrodes. The terms which you mention in your last² show that you are come to the conviction that the essential thing is to express a difference and nothing more. This conviction is nearly correct, but I think one may say that it is very desirable in this case to express an opposition ³, a contra‑riety, as well as a difference. The terms you suggest are objectionable in not doing this. They are also objectionable it appears to me, in putting forwards too ostentatiously the arbitrary nature of the difference. To talk of Alphode and Betode could give some persons the idea that you thought it absurd to pursue the philosophy of the difference of the two results, and at any rate would be thought affected by some. Voltode and Galvanode labour no less under the disadvantage of being not only entirely, but ostentatiously arbitrary, with two additional disadvantages; first that it will be very difficult for any body to recollect which is which; and next that I think you are not quite secure that further investigations may not point out some historical incongruity in this reference to Volta and Galvani. I am more and more convinced that anode and cathode are the right words; and not least, from finding that both you and Dr Nicholl are ready to take any arbitrary opposition or difference. Ana and Kata which are prepositions of the most familiar use in composition, which indicate opposite relations in space, and which yet cannot be interpreted as involving a theory appear to me to unite all desirable properties.

I am afraid of urging the claims of anion and cation though I should certainly take them if it were my business - that which goes to the anode and that which goes to the cathode appears to me to be exactly what you want to say. To talk of the two as ions would sound a little harsh at first: it would soon be got over. But if you are afraid of this I think that stechion, as the accepted Greek name for element, is a very good word to adopt, and then, anastechion and catastechion are the two contrary elements, which I am sure are much better words than you can get at by using dexio and scaio or any other terms not prepositions.

I expect to be in London on Friday and Saturday⁴, and if I am shall try to see you on one of those days and to learn what you finally select. Believe me

Yours most truly | W. Whewell

Address: M. Faraday Esq | Royal Institution | Albemarle Street | London