🔍 Key Concepts

• Function of electrolyte in a lead-acid battery (what the acid/water mixture actually does) • Proper electrolyte level in relation to the plates in a flooded lead-acid cell • What happens to battery capacity when plates are exposed to air

💭 Think About

• Think about why manufacturers specify an electrolyte level slightly above the plates rather than flush with or far above them. • Consider what happens to the active material on the plates if part of the plate is no longer covered by electrolyte. • Ask yourself whether keeping the plates covered and maintaining capacity are really two different goals, or if one leads directly to the other.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify how far above the top of the plates the electrolyte is normally maintained in a flooded lead-acid cell (often around 1/4 inch). • Check whether exposed plate area (not covered by electrolyte) can participate in the chemical reaction that stores and delivers energy. • Confirm whether both listed reasons describe the same correct practice, or if one of them is incomplete or misleading.