The key to electrochemistry are the processes of oxidation and reduction. Remember the phrase” “LEO (the lion) goes GER (grr??
LEO = Lose Electrons Oxidation GER = Gain Electrons Reduction. When one oxidizes a material, it gives up electrons it becomes more positively charged, or enters a higher oxidation state. Likewise, when one reduces a material, one is adding electrons to it and either making it negatively charged or reducing its oxidation state. Now, one can make a cell using two materials, say A and B and immersing them in a solution which can conduct ions, called an electrolyte. (An ion is a charged atom or radical of a molecule capable of transferring electrical charge). Now, let us say that material A is easily oxidized — it likes to lose electrons, while B is a material that likes to be reduced. When these two materials are immersed in an electrolyte, and a circuit is completed from A to B, A is oxidized and electrons are released to flow to the circuit. After performing electrical work, the electrons flow into B, where B is reduced. The circuit from B to A is completed by the flow of ions in the e
