When a battery is being discharged, what type of energy transformation occurs?

When a battery is being discharged, chemical energy is transformed into electrical energy. In a battery, chemical reactions take place within the electrodes, allowing electrons to flow through an external circuit. This flow of electrons is what constitutes electrical energy.

During discharge, the stored chemical energy in the battery’s active materials — typically found within the electrolyte and electrodes — is converted into electrical energy that can be used to power electrical devices. This process is fundamental to how batteries operate, enabling them to deliver power for various applications, from starting a car to providing energy for portable electronic devices.

In contrast, the other options refer to different types of energy transformations that do not occur during battery discharge. For instance, transforming electrical energy back into chemical energy typically occurs during the charging process of a battery, while converting chemical energy into thermal energy occurs in combustion processes. Similarly, electrical energy into mechanical energy can occur in devices like electric motors, but is not representative of what happens in a battery during discharge.