You put the batterie in and they ...what?
2006-07-14 13:46:10 · 5 answers · asked by stefanie.katherine 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
There is something I want you to look up in some physics or chemistry books and that is : Work Function.
When you put some dissimilar metals in an acid or alkaline solution, a voltage or potential difference occurs due to the differences in their work functions.
You can take a lemon and a piece of copper and a piece of zinc, and boom, you have a battery. The work function difference would be between that of copper and zinc, and that would basically determine how much potential difference you would have on this "cell."
If you take lead and antimony plates and put them in a sulfuric acid, they will produce a 2V potential difference between the lead and antimony plates. Now if you put 6 of these in series, the total potential difference is 12V. Hmmm what has 6 cells and gives off 12 volts and has sulfuric acid in it?
A car battery! :^)
Hope this helps.
2006-07-14 16:05:22 · answer #1 · answered by cat_lover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ian is basically right. When there is a chemical reaction that separates electrons from the positive ions, it is possible to provide a path through which the electrons can travel (called a circuit.)
The electrons are repelled by the electrons behind them (like charges repel-- sorry. I know it isn't politically correct, but like charges repel and unlike charges attract) and attracted by the positive ions on the other side of the battery. The circuit provides a path for them to re-join without having to fight against the energy released by the chemical reaction.
Look up different types of batteries:primary cells, secondary cells, etc.
2006-07-14 20:59:03 · answer #2 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well battery as we all know is a source of energy from chemical to electrical. Why? because to have a complete complete circiut you need to have 3 item source, conductor and a load to complete. from + terminal of battery current flow created by the chemical, moves the electron of the conductor to flow to the conductor then the load absorb to make it run then current rush back to the - terminal the so on and so forth until the chemical weaken it's capability to push the electron. that's why we need to replace the battery or recharge it.
2006-07-14 21:12:06 · answer #3 · answered by Romel c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The container of the dry cell, which also serves as one of the electrodes, is made of zinc. The container is lined with porous paper bag which separates the metal from the materials within the cell. A carbon (graphite) rod is placed at the center and used as the other electrode. The space between the carbon rod and the zinc container is filled with a moist mixture of ammonium chloride, manganese dioxide, zinc chloride and carbon powder.
The two materials react chemically and release electric energy.
2006-07-14 21:02:16 · answer #4 · answered by odu83 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
concentrated acids and bases react in the battery. this creates energy. batteries go dead when the reaction reaches equilibrium. i don't know about rechargable batteries
2006-07-14 20:49:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋