How Electric Cells Work

Question 1

electrolyte

Answer 1

a weak solution of acid, base, or salt in water.

Question 2

electrodes

Answer 2

are two strips of metal; the negative electrode is lead and the positive electrode is lead dioxide

Question 3

What happens between the two?

Answer 3

A chemical reaction occurs between the metal electrodes and the electrolyte solution, and as a result, particles in the electrolyte break down into ions.

The negative ions and the positive ions float in the electrolyte. Some ions have too many electrons and are negatively charged. Other ions have too few electrons and are positively charged. The positive ions are attracted to the negative electrode and the negative ions to the positive electrode. The ions then combine, or react chemically, with the electrode substance and deposit their charges on the electrodes.

Question 4

Ions

Answer 4

are atoms that have lost or gained electrons.