In electrolysis, what are negatively charged ions referred to as?

In the context of electrolysis, negatively charged ions are known as anions. This terminology is derived from the behavior of these ions in an electrochemical cell; during electrolysis, anions migrate towards the positive electrode, or anode, where they can participate in a chemical reaction. This movement occurs because opposite charges attract, and since anions carry a negative charge, they are naturally drawn to the positively charged anode.

Understanding the role of anions in electrolysis is crucial, as they contribute to the overall chemical reactions occurring during the process, which may involve the production of gases or other reactions that are essential for various beauty therapy applications such as permanent hair removal or skin treatments. In contrast, cations refer to positively charged ions, electrons are subatomic particles rather than ions, and protons are positively charged particles found within atomic nuclei, making none of these terms applicable to negatively charged ions in the context of electrolysis.