Chapter IX: Electrochemistry

Excerpt from "Charged with a Salt and Battery" by Mala Radhakrishnan

...

Life in a battery’s tough, it’s a fact.
I have all this pent up desire to react.
But I must admire my love from afar
And wait until somebody starts up this car.

My oxidation state’s plus four.
I desp’rately want two electrons more!
And then comes a voice: “My PbO2,
I’ve got two electrons—they’re just for you!”

But I’m at the cathode, and he’s over there
At the anode—I tell you it’s really not fair   
How humans, they force us apart every hour,
Exploiting our smitten ol’ hearts to get power.

I’m stuck here, surrounded by sulfuric acid
And forced to obey and remain nice and tacit.
Humans are heartless; they’re all nuts and bolts.
To them, I’m worth 1.685 volts.
...