To what extent can batteries solve humans' energy needs?

Humans have come to depend on electricity. As presented in the graph below, world energy

consumption in general has been steadily increasing for a long time.

U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Outlook 2017

Humans use electricity for many things. Examples are: movement, heat, light, and to power

electronics in general.

There are many ways humans get this energy. One of these ways are batteries; a technology

which uses chemistry to its advantage in order to create electricity. 15 billion batteries are

thrown away every year, as batteries, unfortunately, do not last forever (Iowa Department of

Natural Resources).

Batteries store chemical energy and turn it into electricity. They do this through a redox

reaction. This means that two half-reactions occur at the same time in a battery in order to

create electricity. These are oxidation in one metal in the battery, and reduction in the other

metal. Oxidation means the metal loses electrons, while reduction means the other metal
gains electrons. The reducing metal gains electrons by taking electrons from the metal that is

oxidizing. This movement of electrons creates a current, from which electricity can be taken

(https://www.science.org.au/curious/technology-future/batteries).

Once the oxidizing metal runs out of electrons to give, the battery runs out of electricity. It is

possible to undo this reaction by giving the reducing metal electricity. This causes the

reducing metal to give electrons back to the metal which oxidized.

Batteries can only recharge so many times, since it is easy for there to be an error in this

recharging process (Adam Jacobson).

There are advantages to batteries.

For individuals, batteries are good, as individuals can use electricity taken from this chemical

process for personal entertainment, such as for their gaming controller.

Another reason batteries are good for individuals is that they may help with necessities, such

as having light.

On the other hand, batteries are bad for individuals as they create waste when no longer of

use, which is difficult to discard appropriately.

For society in general, batteries are good because they prevent the lack of electricity during

power outages. This prevents situations where there is a lack of batteries, which could be

very dangerous in terms of security, and other aspects of life.

Batteries are also good for society because of how they create the possibility of mobile

electric devices, which is used very regularly in daily life to this day.

Batteries are bad for society because of how people have become dependent on them, whilst

batteries of this day are very unpredictable and malfunction very easily. Depending on the

unpredictable is dangerous, and will inevitably cause a variety of problems with time.
Before coming to a conclusion on batteries, it is important to take into account their horrible

environmental impact. Batteries require a variety of resources in order to be produced. These

resources are often taken from natural sources, contributing to the depletion of non-renewable

resources. Making and transporting batteries also requires the emission of greenhouse gases.

This contributes to global warming.

Finally, batteries which are not disposed of properly may cause air, and water pollution.

Hurting all organisms which depend on them, including humans themselves (Sciencing)
 Works Cited

How batteries work. Directed by Adam Jacobson, TED-ed, 2015. Youtube, Google,

youtu.be/9OVtk6G2TnQ. Accessed 3 Apr. 2021.

Kattenburg, Kathy. "What Do Batteries Do to the Environment If Not Properly

Recycled?" Sciencing, Leaf Group Media,

sciencing.com/what-do-batteries-do-to-the-environment-if-not-properly-recycl

ed-12730824.html. Accessed 3 Apr. 2021.

United States, U.S. Energy Information Administration. International Energy Outlook

2017. 14 Sept. 2017. EIA, www.eia.gov/outlooks/ieo/pdf/0484(2017).pdf.

Accessed 3 Apr. 2021.

The United States of America, Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Battery

Recycling/Disposal. Aug. 2015. Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Accessed 3 Apr. 2021.