A phone battery is charged by using an electrical current to reverse the chemical process that discharges it.
The Charging Process Explained
When you plug your phone into a charger, here's what happens:
- Electrical Current Flow: An electrical current flows from the charger to the phone's battery.
- Lithium Ion Movement: Inside the battery, this current forces lithium ions to move from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, where they are stored. This is stated directly by the source material: "When you plug your phone into a charger, an electrical current flows from the charger to the battery. Inside the battery, this current forces lithium ions to move from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, where they are stored."
- Energy Storage: This chemical process stores energy, allowing the battery to hold a charge.
In essence, charging a phone battery involves reversing the discharge process by using electricity to push lithium ions back to the negative electrode, replenishing the battery's energy reserves.
