Definition
What is a battery?
A battery or cell is an electronic device that produces Direct current. It may contain one or more electrochemical cells that is capable of producing electrical energy from its chemical energy by means of a chemical reaction. Batteries are commonly used as supply of power in many devices such as phones, laptops, flashlights, remote controls, etc. It is composed of an anode, a cathode and the electrolyte.
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| Wet Cell |
Classification
What are the different types of batteries?
Batteries can be categorized depending on the type of electrolyte it uses.
Wet cell battery has a liquid electrolyte. In electrochemistry, it is used as a learning tool in understanding how electrochemical cells work.
Another one is the Dry cell which has a paste-like electrolyte. It is desogned to have enough moisture to support the flow of electrons. it is commonly used in portable devices because it works at any orientation.
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| Dry Cell |
Another one is the Dry cell which has a paste-like electrolyte. It is desogned to have enough moisture to support the flow of electrons. it is commonly used in portable devices because it works at any orientation.
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| Molten-Salt Battery |
Molten-salt battery has a molten salt electrolyte which makes it possible to supply power to electric vehicles. The last type of battery is the Reserve battery which is a battery activated upon adding electrolytes.
Comparison and Contrast
Primary and Secondary Battery
A primary battery is battery that can only be used once because the chemical reaction that takes place inside of it is irreversible. This kind of battery is cheap and mostly have a low stored energy. At home, this is only used in devices that doesn't consume much energy like clocks, watches and flashlights. On the other hand, a secondary battery can be used more than once. The chemical reaction that takes place inside is reversible and this reverse reaction happens upon charging the battery. It is more expensive than a primary battery. Aside from the battery itself, it is necessary to buy a charger. Upon charging, the energy it can supply is less than the original energy it can supply and through time the battery becomes useless. Secondary batteries are used in high-voltage consuming devices such as laptops, phones and computers.
Division
Parts of a battery
A battery has three basic parts; two electrodes known as the anode and the cathode, and the electrolyte. Anode refers to the negative terminal while the cathode refers to the positive terminal. In secondary batteries, the electrodes interchange during the charging process. The anode is usually made of carbon while the cathode is a metal-oxide. The electrolyte is the semi-fluid that contains the ions.
Description Process
How batteries work?
A chemical reaction happens within the battery causing an electron build-up on the anode. The anode then become more negatively charge than the cathode. In order to attain stability within the cell, other electrons from the anode must go to the cathode. When a connection is made from the anode to the cathode (for example a wire with a load such as a bulb), electrons travel through it (an electron flow or current)l lighting the bulb and eventually making it to the cathode. The chemical reaction that happens within the cell yields new chemicals in the anode and cathode, and this reaction comes to an end. By recharging, the reaction is reverse attaining the original chemicals in the anode and in the cathode. The battery again is ready to supply current.
(http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/power/2-how-do-batteries-work.html)
Description
Battery?
We use them everyday, anytime and anywhere. Batteries are useful power source in case of emergency shutdown and whenever electricity is not supplied in a certain place. Every battery has its own amount of electrical energy stored. The reserve battery is an exception because it can produce current as long as its components are continuously filled. Electricity is not the only way to recharge batteries. The use of solar energy is another. It uses solar cells that absorbs solar energy that is necessary for the reverse chemical reaction within the cell or battery. Batteries have different sizes and shapes that tells on what device it is used.Illustration
Battery on the Use
Small devices such as watches, use small circular batteries. At home, the most common battery we know is the AA and AAA that we usually use in remote controls, toys, flashlights, etc. Larger batteries are used in Laptops, phones, and other gadgets. Even larger batteries are use in vehicles and machines in the factories. Today, batteries are not only used in devices that is independent to electricity. Some, like the computers, also have batteries that are used whenever there is an emergency shutdown allowing the user to have time save his files.
Narration
Battery in the Beginning
Alessandro Volta invented the battery in the 1800's. Batteries were mostly the source of current. But, batteries that time cannot produce the desired amount of energy needed for other machines. Bigger batteries were made then. More small devices were also made and the need of small batteries, but have high stored energy, was indeed a necessity. Many experiments were done resulting to new possible components of a battery that can produce the energy required. Though can produce higher energy, some are dangerous like the battery that uses mercury which is not safe to our health. The use of silver was a great idea but it was expensive. On the other hand, there were many successful experiment that made the battery better. Today, many devices we are using have batteries that are not easily drained nor destroyed.
Cause and Effect
Causes of Battery Failure
Irreversible chemical reaction and physical changes to the active chemicals in a cell results to low performance in batteries. These chemical reaction includes corrosion and passivation. In corrosion, some of the active chemicals are used causing capacity loss. In passivation, a resistive layer builds up on the electrodes preventing the desired chemical reaction to take place. In some situation before using a battery, it may already have defects like poor cell construction, contamination, or burrs on metal plates which can cause the electrodes to come into contact causing short circuit. Battery failure can also be caused by accidents like dropping, crushing, penetrating, immersion in fluids, freezing or contact with fire. Battery when overcharged, or used to unsuitable application, or physically damaged can result n overheating, which is the main killer of batteries.
