The fundamental scientific principle in the operation of the battery is
(1) acid-base interaction
(2) dialysis
(3) dissociation of electrolytes
(4) oxidation-reduction
Answer: (3) The electrolyte consists of a solvent (water, an organic liquid, or even a solid) and one or more chemicals that dissociate into ions in the solvent. These ions serve to deliver electrons and chemical matter through the cell interior to balance the flow of electric current outside the cell during cell operation. An electrolyte is a liquid or gel that contains ions and can be decomposed by electrolysis, e.g., that present in a battery. Commonly, electrolytes are solutions of acids, bases, or salts. Electrolyte solutions can also result from the dissolution of some biological (e.g., DNA, polypeptides) and synthetic polymers (e.g., polystyrene sulfonate), termed polyelectrolytes, which contain charged functional groups.
