Electrolytes

oxidizing material—fluorine (–2.87 volts with respect to hydrogen)—with something that just can’t wait to give electrons to it.

In practice, many other factors enter the picture, such as availability of material, ease in making them work together, ability to manufacture the final product in volume, and cost. As a result of the trade-offs, only a few electrochemical couple possibilities make it into the realm of commercially produced batteries that you will meet later in the chapter.

Electrolytes

The electrolyte provides a path for electron migration between electrodes and, in some cells, also participates in the chemical reaction. The electrolyte is usually a liquid (an acid, salt, or alkali added to water), but can be in jelly or paste form. In terms of chemistry, a battery is electrodes and electrolyte operating in a cell or container in accordance with certain chemical reactions. Figure 8-1 shows the chemistry of a very

Figure 8-1 Chemistry of a simple lead-acid cell.