How Does a Battery Work

We use batteries for a great many purposes. Portable sources of energy that can power anything from a mobile phone to a mobile crane. But how do these power sources work, and what are the functions inside?

Most batteries contain three basic parts. Electrodes, an electrolyte and a separator. Within every battery are two electrodes, both of which are made of conductive material.

One electrode, known as the cathode, connects to the positive end of the battery and is where the electrical current leaves (or electrons enter) the battery during discharge, which is when the battery is being used to power something.

The other electrode, known as the anode, connects to the negative end of the battery and is where the electrical current enters (or electrons leave) the battery during discharge.

A series of chemical reactions occur in the electrodes. These are collectively known as oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions. These reactions result in the flow of ions between the anode and the cathode.