Chemistry in a Box

A battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy through controlled chemical reactions. Inside every battery, two different materials — the anode and cathode — sit in a chemical solution called an electrolyte. The anode wants to give up electrons.

When you connect a battery to a device, a chemical reaction at the anode releases electrons that flow through the external circuit, powering your device, then return to the cathode. The electrolyte shuttles ions internally to complete the loop.