Allright, what is brass (metal)?

Is it an alloy of copper (Cu) and zink (Zn) or is it just copper (Cu)?

When they say 'brass electrode' to they mean the electrode out of Cu (медный электрод) or out of Cu+Zn (латунный электрод)?

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. A brass electrode is an electrode made from brass. An electrode made from copper is called... a copper electrode.

Why, has someone stolen the zinc from your electrodes? :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by scotcher

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. A brass electrode is an electrode made from brass. An electrode made from copper is called... a copper electrode.

Why, has someone stolen the zinc from your electrodes? :)

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Because! They should have written 'copper electrode' instead. The electrolytic process wouldn't work the way they describe with brass.
By the way, it's not the first time I encounter brass confused with copper and vice versa for some reason. That's why I ask.

Even in dictionaries I see both латунь и медь.

Musical instruments in Russia are called 'медные духовые инструменты'
In English they're called 'the brass instruments'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_instrument

A bit on etymology. For what it's worth.