but for my next bitcoin transaction I did not request for the bitcoin..but used the old address from the previous request in the electrum wallet...
Funny thing is: you won't be needing the
receive tab to "
receive" bitcoins.
The function of that is to add the description that you put when a transaction went through that address (
saved only in the wallet file)
and to show the user his unused addresses probably to prevent address reuse.
But as stated, it's safe to reuse them but not recommended for privacy reasons.
You can view all of your used, unused and change addresses in the address tab (
View->Show Addresses).