An electrochemical cell is the basic unit of a battery. It consists of two different materials (electrodes) separated by another chemical, often a liquid, called an electrolyte. One can be made in a beaker, or simply by sticking two different metals into a fruit or vegetable (Figure 1).
When the electrodes are connected in a circuit a chemical reaction occurs between the electrodes and the electrolyte, which creates a potential difference (pd) across the cell and a current through the circuit. Cells can be connected to make batteries with a higher terminal pd. Alessandro Volta’s ‘voltaic pile’ is often cited as the first battery that could provide a continuous electric current.
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