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Dry Cell: Structure and Reactions

Dry cell is a primary cell that uses a zinc cylinder anode and carbon cathode. It contains a paste of NH4Cl, ZnCl2, and MnO2. The zinc cylinder reacts with the paste, oxidizing to Zn2+ ions and releasing electrons. The electrons travel through the external circuit to the carbon cathode, where they are accepted in a reduction reaction involving NH4+ ions and MnO2. The overall reaction produces Zn2+ ions, Mn2O3, water, and ammonia. Ammonia binds with Zn2+ ions to prevent polarization and increase in ion concentration that would lower the cell's potential of 1.5V. Modern dry cells use KOH instead of NH4Cl

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987 views2 pages

Dry Cell: Structure and Reactions

Dry cell is a primary cell that uses a zinc cylinder anode and carbon cathode. It contains a paste of NH4Cl, ZnCl2, and MnO2. The zinc cylinder reacts with the paste, oxidizing to Zn2+ ions and releasing electrons. The electrons travel through the external circuit to the carbon cathode, where they are accepted in a reduction reaction involving NH4+ ions and MnO2. The overall reaction produces Zn2+ ions, Mn2O3, water, and ammonia. Ammonia binds with Zn2+ ions to prevent polarization and increase in ion concentration that would lower the cell's potential of 1.5V. Modern dry cells use KOH instead of NH4Cl

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EngrDebashisMallick
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Dry Cell

Dry Cell : It is a primary cell based on Leclanche cell invented by G. Leclanche in 1868. In a
primary cell, the electrode reactions cannot be reversed by an external source of electrical
energy. In this cell, the cell reaction takes place only once i.e., this cell is not rechargeable. It
is generally used in torched, transistors, radios, calculators, tape recorders etc. It consists of
a hollow zinc cylinder which is filled with a paste of NH4Cl and a little ZnCl2. This paste is
made with the help of water. The zinc cylinder acts as anode while cathode is a graphite rod
(Carbon). The carbon rod is surrounded by a black paste of MnO2 and carbon powder. The
zinc cylinder has an outer insulation of cardboard case.

Dry cells are sealed with wax or other material to protect the moisture from evaporation.
When the electrodes are connected, the cell operates.
The electrode reactions are complex. Metallic Zn is oxidized to Zn2+ and the electrons
liberated are left on the container. The reactions which take place at electrodes can be
represented as :
At anode : Zn(s)→Zn(aq)2++2e− (Oxidation)
At cathode : 2NH4(aq)++2MnO2(s)+3e−→Mn2O3(s)+H2O(I)+2NH3(g)(Reduction)
Overall reaction :
Zn(s)+2NH4(aq)++2MnO2(s)Zn(aq)2++Mn2O3(s)+H2O(I)+2NH3(g)
The ammoia gas produced at the cathode, combines with Zn2+ ions to form a soluble
compound containing ion [Zn(NH3)4]2+.
Zn(aq)2++4NH3(g)→[Zn(NH3)4](aq)2+
This reaction prevents polarization due to formation of ammonia. It also prevents the
substantial increase of concentration of Zn2+ ions which would decrease the cell potential.
This potential of dry cell is approximately 1.5V.

Defect : Due to acidic nature of NH4Cl zinc container corrodes due to which holes develop
through which the chemicals come out.
Now a day, the cells are made leakage resistant. In it KOH is used in place of NH4Cl by
which zinc does not corrode.

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