Batteries

Discussion

introduction

An electrochemical cell is two different metals in contact through an electrolyte (a liquid with free-moving ions). A set of connected cells is called a battery. Batteries come in two basic types: primary and secondary. The chemical reaction that powers a primary cell is one way. Once the chemicals are exhausted the battery is effectively dead. In contrast, the chemical reaction in a secondary cell is reversible. When the reaction runs in its spontaneous direction, the battery produces a potential difference. When the same potential difference is applied to the battery from an external source, the chemical reaction runs in reverse. A battery made up of secondary cells is said to be rechargeable.

Loose notes:

example anode (−) electrolyte cathode (+) voltage
voltaic pile
(1799)		 zinc
(Zn)		 brine
(saltwater)		 copper
(Cu)		 variable
daniell cell
(1836)		 zinc
(Zn)		 zinc sulfate (ZnSO4)*
copper sulfate (CuSO4)		 copper
(Cu)		 1.10 V
leclanché cell
(1866)		 zinc
(Zn)		 ammonium chloride (NH4Cl)
manganese dioxide (MnO2)		 carbon
(C)		 1.58 V
"lemon battery" zinc
(Zn)		 citric acid
(C6H8O7)		 copper
(Cu)		 1.10 V
Primary cells (disposable batteries)
* originally sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
example anode (−) electrolyte cathode (+) voltage
lead acid lead
(Pb)		 sulfuric acid
(H2SO4)		 lead oxide
(PbO2)		 2.11 V
nicad nickel hydroxide
(Ni(OH)2)		 potassium hydroxide
(KOH)		 cadmium hydroxide
(Cd(OH)2)		 1.35 V
nife nickel hydroxide
(Ni(OH)2)		 potassium hydroxide
(KOH)		 iron
(Fe)		 1.2 V
nizn nickel hydroxide
(Ni(OH)2)		 potassium hydroxide
(KOH)		 zinc
(Zn)		 1.65 V
nickel metal hydride nickel hydroxide
(Ni(OH)2)		 potassium hydroxide
(KOH)		 intermetallic
compounds		 1.2 V
lithium ion carbon
(C)		 lithium salts in
an organic solvent**		 lithium cobalt oxide
(LiCoO2)		 3.6 V
Secondary cells (rechargeable batteries)
** typically a mixture of LiPF6, LiBF4, LiClO4 in diethyl ether ((C2H5)2O)
 
eglobe logo The Physics Hypertextbook
© 1998–2013 Glenn Elert

No condition is permanent.

  1. Mechanics
    1. Kinematics
      1. Motion
      2. Distance & Displacement
      3. Speed & Velocity
      4. Acceleration
      5. Equations of Motion
      6. Falling Bodies
      7. Graphs of Motion
      8. Kinematics and Calculus
      9. Kinematics in Two Dimensions
      10. Projectiles
      11. Parametric Equations
    2. Dynamics I: Force
      1. Forces
      2. Force & Mass
      3. Action-Reaction
      4. Weight
      5. Friction
      6. Equilibrium
      7. Forces in Two Dimensions
      8. Centripetal Force
      9. Frames of Reference
    3. Energy
      1. Work
      2. Energy
      3. Kinetic Energy
      4. Potential Energy
      5. Conservation of Energy
      6. Power
      7. Simple Machines
    4. Dynamics II: Momentum
      1. Impulse & Momentum
      2. Conservation of Momentum
      3. Momentum & Energy
      4. Momentum in Two Dimensions
    5. Rotational Motion
      1. Rotational Kinematics
      2. Rotational Inertia
      3. Rotational Dynamics
      4. Rotational Equilibrium
      5. Angular Momentum
      6. Rotational Energy
      7. Rolling
      8. Rotation in Two Dimensions
      9. Coriolis Force
    6. Planetary Motion
      1. Geocentrism
      2. Heliocentrism
      3. Universal Gravitation
      4. Orbital Mechanics I
      5. Gravitational Potential Energy
      6. Orbital Mechanics II
      7. Gravity of Extended Bodies
    7. Periodic Motion
      1. Springs
      2. Simple Harmonic Oscillator
      3. Pendulums
      4. Resonance
      5. Elasticity
    8. Fluids
      1. Density
      2. Pressure
      3. Buoyancy
      4. Fluid Flow
      5. Viscosity
      6. Aerodynamic Drag
      7. Flow Regimes
  1. Thermal Physics
    1. Heat & Temperature
      1. Temperature
      2. Thermal Expansion
      3. The Atomic Nature of Matter
      4. Gas Laws
      5. Kinetic-Molecular Theory
      6. Phases
    2. Calorimetry
      1. Sensible Heat
      2. Latent Heat
      3. Chemical Potential Energy
    3. Heat Transfer
      1. Conduction
      2. Convection
      3. Radiation
    4. Thermodynamics
      1. Heat & Work
      2. Pressure-Volume Diagrams
      3. Engines
      4. Refrigerators
      5. Energy & Entropy
      6. Absolute Zero
  2. Waves & Optics
    1. Wave Phenomena
      1. The Nature of Waves
      2. Interference & Superposition
      3. Reflection, Transmission, Absorption
      4. Standing Waves
      5. Diffraction
      6. Interference in Two Dimensions
    2. Sound
      1. The Nature of Sound
      2. Intensity
      3. Beats
      4. Music & Noise
      5. Doppler Effect (Sound)
      6. Shock Waves
    3. Physical Optics
      1. The Nature of Light
      2. Color
      3. Thin Film Interference
      4. Resolving Power
      5. Diffraction & Interference
      6. Doppler Effect (Light)
      7. Cerenkov Radiation
      8. Polarization
    4. Geometric Optics
      1. Reflection
      2. Refraction
      3. Spherical Mirrors
      4. Spherical Lenses
      5. Aberration
  1. Electricity & Magnetism
    1. Electrostatics
      1. Electric Charge
      2. Coulomb's Law
      3. Electric Field
      4. Electric Potential
      5. Gauss's Law
      6. Conductors
    2. Electrostatic Applications
      1. Capacitors
      2. Dielectrics
      3. Batteries
    3. Electric Current
      1. Electric Current
      2. Electric Resistance
      3. Electric Power
    4. DC Circuits
      1. Resistors in Circuits
      2. Batteries in Circuits
      3. Capacitors in Circuits
      4. Kirchhoff's Rules
    5. Magnetostatics
      1. Magnetism
      2. Electromagnetism
      3. Ampère's Law
      4. Magnetic Force
    6. Magnetodynamics
      1. Electromagnetic Induction
      2. Faraday's Law
      3. Lenz' Law
      4. Inductance
    7. AC Circuits
      1. Alternating Current
      2. RC Circuits
      3. RL Circuits
      4. LC Circuits
    8. Electromagnetic Waves
      1. Maxwell's Equations
      2. Electromagnetic Waves
      3. Electromagnetic Spectrum
  1. Modern Physics
    1. Relativity
      1. Space-Time
      2. Mass-Energy
      3. General Relativity
    2. Quanta
      1. Blackbody Radiation
      2. Photoelectric Effect
      3. X‑rays
      4. Antimatter
    3. Wave Mechanics
      1. Matter Waves
      2. Atomic Models
      3. Semiconductors
      4. Condensed Matter
    4. Nuclear Physics
      1. Isotopes
      2. Radioactive Decay
      3. Half Life
      4. Binding Energy
      5. Fission
      6. Fusion
      7. Nucleosynthesis
      8. Nuclear Weapons
      9. Radiobiology
    5. Particle Physics
      1. Quantum Electrodynamics
      2. Quantum Chromodynamics
      3. Quantum Flavordynamics
      4. The Standard Model
      5. Beyond the Standard Model
  2. Foundations
    1. Units
      1. International System of Units
      2. Gaussian System of Units
      3. British-American System of Units
      4. Miscellaneous Units
      5. Time
      6. Unit Conversion
    2. Measurement
      1. Significant Digits
      2. Orders of Magnitude
    3. Graphs
      1. Graphical Representation of Data
      2. Linear Regression
      3. Curve Fitting
      4. Calculus
    4. Vectors
      1. Vector Addition & Subtraction
      2. Vector Resolution & Components
      3. Vector Multiplication
    5. Reference
      1. Special Symbols
      2. Frequently Used Equations
      3. Physical Constants
      4. Astronomical Data
      5. Periodic Table of the Elements
      6. People in Physics
  3. More
    1. More
      1. About
      2. News
      3. Shop
      4. Google+
      5. Even More