Basic Electrophoresis

One of the most poorly understood concepts in electrochemistry has to do with the flow of electricity in an electrochemical cell. Many students assume that the flow of electricity through the solution(s) is due to the flow of electrons. In all types of electrochemical cells, electrons carry the current through an external wire or conductor, but ions carry the current through the solution. Anions move toward the anode and cations move toward the cathode to prevent charge buildup at the electrodes. A central feature of electrochemical cells, migration of ions in an electric field is also the basic principle in electrophoresis.