Comparison of Battery Cells

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Production of Materials‎ > ‎4. Electrochemical Methods‎ >

Gather and present information on the structure and chemistry of a lead-acid cell and evaluate it in comparison to a button cell in terms of:

• chemistry
• cost and practicality
• impact on society
• environmental impacts

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Cell type	Lead-acid cell	Button (silver oxide) cell
Appearance
Chemistry	Cell diagram Pb, PbSO4 | H2SO4 (aq) | PbO2, Pb  Cathode reaction PbO2 (s) + 4H+ + SO42- +2e– → PbSO4 (s)2O + 2H (l) Anode reaction Pb (s) + SO42- → PbSO4 (s) + 2e– Cell voltage 2.2 V	Cell diagram Zn, ZnO | KOH (paste) | Ag2O, Ag Cathode reaction Ag2O (s) + H2O (l) + 2e– → 2Ag (s) + 2OH– Anode reaction Zn (s) + 2OH– → ZnO (s) + H2O + 2e– Overall reaction Zn (s) + Ag2O (s) → 2Ag (s) + ZnO (s) Cell voltage 1.3 V
Cost and practicality	Very large and heavy Long life Lead is a reasonably expensive metal, making the cell quite expensive Rechargeable Electrolyte must be checked regularly Level of charge easily determined	Very small and light Relatively long life Silver is an expensive metal, making the cell reasonably expensive Constant output voltage Non-rechargeable
Impact on society	Ability to recharge makes cell suitable for vehicles, where the engine can recharge the cell Allowed development of starters in vehicles Able to store solar energy when connected to solar panels Important for charge storage, such as in remote regions	Small size has allowed for miniature electric appliances Non-toxic nature has allowed for use inside the body
Environmental impacts	Do not have to be discarded/recycled after one use. Corrosive sulfuric acid can pollute the environment if spillages occur. Lead is toxic and electrodes and casings must be recycled; lead causes anaemia and affects the brain.	Have to be discarded/recycled after one use Potassium hydroxide electrolyte is caustic No highly toxic materials that will harm the environment

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