Shocking Fruit

There are two things inside of batteries: electrodes (ee-leck-trodes) and electrolytes (ee-leck-troe-lites). Electrodes are pieces of metal that collect positive and negative charges. In the case of our fruit batteries, the copper and zinc are our electrodes. The electrolyte is a substance that interacts with the electrodes to create the positive and negative charges. The juice inside of the fruit is acting as our electrolyte. Specifically it is something inside the juice called citric (si-trick)acid. This is the stuff that makes cuts sting if they get juice in them (ouchie!).