BATTERIES:
Batteries are the electrochemical cells used commercially to generate electricity. Any battery consists of
two or more than two galvanic cells connected in series where the chemical energy of the redox
reactions is converted into electrical energy.
There are mainly two types of batteries:
(a) Primary cell: The cells that cannot be reused are called Primary cells. These cells are not chargeable
because the electrode reaction occurs only once and after the use over a period of time the cells
become dead.
Examples of Primary cell:
1. Dry cell (Leclanche cell): It is used commonly in watches, radios, calculators, etc.
It consists of a zinc container that also acts as anode and the cathode is a carbon (graphite) rod
surrounded by powdered manganese dioxide and carbon. The space between the electrodes is filled by
a moist paste of NH4Cl and ZnCl2.
Ammonia produced in the reaction forms a complex with Zn 2+ to give [Zn(NH3)4]2+. The electrode
reactions are:
The cell has a potential of nearly 1.5 V
2. Mercury cell: It consists of zinc–mercury amalgam as anode and a paste of HgO and carbon as the
cathode. The electrolyte is a paste of KOH and ZnO. The electrode reactions are:
Overall cell reaction is
The cell potential is approximately 1.35 V and remains constant during its life as the overall reaction
does not involve any ion in solution whose concentration can change during its life time.
Secondary Batteries:
A secondary battery is rechargeable and can be used again and again. It is recharged by passing current
through it from an external source.
Examples of secondary batteries:
1. Lead storage battery: It is commonly used in automobiles and invertors. It consists of a lead anode
and a grid of lead packed with lead dioxide (PbO 2 ) as cathode. A 38% solution of sulphuric acid is used
as an electrolyte.
The cell reactions when the battery is in use are given below:
Overall cell reaction is:
On recharging the cell, operated like an electrolytic cell; the reaction is reversed and PbSO4(s) on
anode and cathode is converted into Pb and PbO2, respectively.
Overall cell reaction is:
2PbSO4 (s) + 2H2O(l) → Pb(s) + PbO2(s) + H2SO4(aq)
2. Nickel – cadmium cell:
This cell has longer life than the lead storage cell but is costly.
The overall reaction during discharge is:
Fuel cells:
Fuel cells are those cells which produce electrical energy directly from the combustion of fuels
such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide or methane. The most successful fuel cell, H2–O2 cell
utilises the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce water. Hydrogen and oxygen are
bubbled through a porous carbon electrode in the cell into concentrated aqueous sodium
hydroxide. Catalysts are incorporated into the electrode. The electrode reactions are:
Advantages of Fuel Cells:
(a) It is a pollution-free device since no harmful products are formed.
(b) Its efficiency is about 75% which is considerably higher than conventional cells.
(c) These cells are light in weight as compared to electrical generators to produce
corresponding quantity of power.
(d) It is a continuous source of energy if the supply of gases is maintained.
Corrosion: The process of slow eating up of metals by gases and water vapours present in
atmosphere due to the formation of certain compounds like oxides, sulphides, carbonates, etc.
is called corrosion.
Corrosion of iron is known as rusting. Chemically, rust is hydrated ferric oxide, Fe2O3. xH2O.
Corrosion may be considered as an electrochemical phenomenon. According to electrochemical
theory of rusting, the impure iron surface behaves like a small electrochemical cell in the
presence of moisture containing oxygen or carbon dioxide. Such a cell is called corrosion cell or
corrosion couple. In these miniature corrosion cells, pure iron acts as anode, impure surface
area acts as cathode and moisture having dissolved carbon dioxide or oxygen acts as
electrolyte.
At anode,
At cathode,
Overall reaction:
The ferrous ions are further oxidised by atmospheric oxygen to ferric ions which come out as
rust in the form of hydrated ferric oxide (Fe2O3. xH2O) and with further production of hydrogen
ions.
Prevention of corrosion:
1. By covering the surface with paint or by some chemicals (e.g. bisphenol).
2. By covering the surface by other metals (Sn, Zn, etc.) that are inert or react to save the object.
3. Sacrificial protection: An electrochemical method is to provide a sacrificial electrode of another metal
(like Mg, Zn, etc.) which corrodes itself but saves the object.
4. By electroplating iron with some non-corrosive metals such as nickel, chromium, copper, etc.
