Positive and negative sides of voltage source

[sxy]

Hi!
What exactly is in the positive side of battery or other voltage source?
Is it right to say that in the positive side of voltage source you have : accumulation of positive ions ;
Whereas on the negative side of the voltage source there is an accumulation of electrons (which carry a negative charge of course).
So that the electrons are attracted to the positive ions, and moving towards them,
Whereas the positive ions are attracted to the negative electrons,
But the actual motion is of the electrons in the direction of the positive electrode of the voltage source.
Thank you

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Not quite, or not in solid conductors, anyway; think electrons and "holes" - spaces in the valence shell of an atom in a conductor.

When an electron move one way to a different atom, it leaves a hole the other way; the ionised atoms don't move in a solid, but the holes that make the ions do, in effect.

That's a key part of how semiconductors work - trace amounts of atoms of an element with one more or less electron than the base material are added, to provide extra electrons or holes in the crystal matrix, to allow it to conduct.

 

[crutschow]

So in a solid conductor only the electrons move, not the positively charged atoms.

 

[sxy]

Why the negative ion: OH- goes from the positive electrode to the negative electrode
in the process of using the Alkaline battery ?

 

[sxy]

But ion: OH- is negatively charged
and so is the negative electrode;
so they should repel each other.
thank you very much

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Just remember that it is a chemical process.

The chemical reactions involved create the voltage, up to the point it blocks itself - it does not continue or build charge continuously.

An external load allowing current to flow allows the reaction to continue.

The power source is the chemical breakdown of some materials and formation of others.

Primarily, Zinc is extremely reactive and that takes oxygen from the manganese dioxide, releasing energy in the process. (It's oxidising, as in burning, but in conditions controlled by chemistry and electron movement).

Alkaline battery - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[sxy]

Thanks for the answer.

OH- is a negative ion that moves from the positive electrode to the negative electrode.

Zinc is not present in the positive electrode; so what causes the negative ion OH- ;

to leave the positive electrode and to wander to the negative electrode.

thakns a lot

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Zinc being oxidised provides most of the energy for what is happening.

I'm an electronics designer and programmer, not a chemist.

It's down to "Electronegativity" and such if I remember correctly, but I cannot tell you the exact chemistry and reactions etc.
I've had no need for such stuff since leaving school roughly 50 years ago.

It may be something like "partial pressure" or an equivalent of that with different atoms in the electrolyte.
(If an excess of something is produced at one point, it will be pushed away from there, even against other forces, until an equilibrium is found).

I cannot answer any further than that. Other people no doubt can, but you may be better asking on a chemistry forum rather than electronics.

It's not relevant either work or hobby wise to me; electronics, computers, hydraulics, music, audio & radio, machine tools & various other technology related subjects, yes - but not chemistry.

 

[KubaSO]

(deleted, sorry)

 

[DrDoggy2]

OH- doesnt move, only the electron does, the electron moves to where there are less electrons. when it gets there it binds with the ion (NA+ for example), which completes the reaction its trying to do: form a stable naoh compound.

 

[tepalia02]

Here are some videos to explain the basic idea-

 

[danadak]

Actually electrons do not move, per se, like a billiard ball. Rather observing one
is actually measuring, not position, rather the probability that the electron exists
in space time.

Does an electron in an atom move at all?

First of all, I assume you meant to ask the question, Does an electron in a stable (non-transitioning) atomic state experience any movement? Obviou...

www.wtamu.edu

Hydrogen Atom Orbital Viewer

Regards, Monkey Wrench.