RATAN LAL PHOOL KATORI

DEVI SCHOOL

Chemistry Project File

on:- Batteries
Name :- Palak Kuntal
Class :- XIIth C
Roll no. :- 24
Submitted to :- Poonam Mishra
Mam

Teacher ’’s Signature :-

 Acknowledgement
I express my sincere thanks to my instructor
Mrs. Poonam Mishra who guided me to the
successful completion of this project. I take
this opportunity to express my deep sense of
gratitude for their individual guidance,
constant encouragement and immense
motivation which have sustained my efforts
at all stages of this project work.

I extend my sincere thanks to my principal

Dr. Neeta Singh for her support and for all
the facilities provided for the preparation of
this project work.
In the end, I would wish to thank everyone,
who motivated me to continue my work.
 This is to certify that Palak Kuntal of class
th
12 C has successfully completed her project
on topic Battries under the guidance of
Mrs. Poonam Mishra during the academic year
2023-24 .

Mrs. Poonam Mishra Teacher’s Signature :-

(Subject teacher)
 Content
 Introduction
 Classification of Batteries
 Daniell Cell
 Dry Cell
 Mercury cell
 Lead Storage Cell
 Recharging the Battery
 Nickel Cadmium Storage Cell
 Fuel Cells
 Advantages of fuel cells over
ordinary batteries
 Introduction :-
A battery can be defined as an electrochemical device
(consisting of one or more electrochemical cells)
which can be charged with an electric current and
discharged whenever required. Batteries are usually
devices that are made up of multiple electrochemical
cells that are connected to external inputs and outputs.
Batteries are widely employed in order to power small
electric devices such as mobile phones, remotes, and
flashlights.

Historically, the ‘term’ battery has always been used in

order to refer to the combination of two or more
electrochemical cells. However, the modern definition
of the term ‘battery’ is believed to accommodate
devices that only feature a single cell.
A battery is an arrangement of electrochemical cells
used as an energy source. The basis of an
electrochemical cell is an oxidation-reduction reaction.
A useful battery should also fulfil the following
requirements :-
1) It should be light and compact so that it can be
easily transported.
2) It should have reasonably long life both when it is
being used and when it is not used.
3) The voltage of the battery should not vary
appreciably during its use.
Classification of
Batteries :-

Batteries are broadly classified into two categories,

namely

 Primary cell/battery
 Secondary cell/battery.

Primary batteries can only be charged once. When

these batteries are completely discharged, they
become useless and must be discarded. The most
common reason why primary batteries cannot be
recharged is that the electrochemical reaction that
takes place inside of them is irreversible in nature. It
is important to note that primary batteries are also
referred to as use-and-throw batteries.
Some common examples are daniell cell, dry cell,
mercury cell.

On the other hand, secondary batteries are the

batteries than can be charged and reused for many
charging-discharging cycles. The electrochemical
reactions that take place inside these batteries are
usually reversible in nature. Therefore, secondary
batteries are also known as rechargeable batteries.
When discharging, the reactants combine to form
products, resulting in the flow of electricity. When
charging, the flow of electrons into the battery
facilitates the reverse reaction, in which the products
react to form the reactants.
Examples of secondary cells are lead storage battery
and nickel-cadmium storage cell.
Daniell Cell

The Daniell cell has a copper vessel which contains a

concentrated solution of copper sulphate. A porous pot
containing dilute sulphuric acid is placed in the copper
vessel containing copper sulphate solution. A zinc rod is
dipped into dilute sulphuric acid. Zinc electrode acts as
an anode, while the copper container acts as a cathode.

The reactions taking place in the cell are:

At anode: Zn(s) →Zn2+(aq) + 2e–

At cathode: Cu2+(aq) + 2e– →Cu(s)

Net cell reaction :

Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) →Cu(s) + Zn2+(aq)

The cell may be represented as,

Zn(s) | Zn2+(aq) || Cu2+(aq) | Cu(s)

(anode) (cathode)

Daniell cell gives an emf of 1.1 V.

 Dry Cell :-
A compact form of the LeClanche cell is the dry cell. It
comprises of an outer container made of inc, which acts
as an anode. The zinc content of the cell is lined from
inside with a porous insulating paper. The cathode is a
carbon rod having a brass cap.
There is a space between the cathode and the anode
which is filled with a mixture of MnO2 along with
a thick paste of ammonium chloride, (NH4Cl), zinc
chloride (ZnCl2), and charcoal. The lining of the porous
paper prevents a direct contact between zinc container
and the paste. It acts as a salt bridge. The cell is sealed
from the top with pitch or wax.
Reactions during discharge
At anode: Zn(s) →Zn2++ 2e–

The Zn2+ ions migrate towards carbon electrode

(cathode). The reaction at the cathode is,

At cathode: MnO2+ NH4++ e– → MnO (OH) + NH3MnO2

It acts as a depolarizer. State of manganese is reduced

from + 4 to + 3 in cathodic reaction. The ammonia
molecules formed at the cathode react with Zn2+ ions
coming from the anode, to form a complex ion
Zn(NH3)42+. The complication of Zn2+ by NH3 molecules
lowers the concentration of free Zn2+ and results in an
increase in the voltage of the cell. A dry cell has a
potential of about 1.5 V.

In reality, the dry cells aren’t really dry. They have a wet
paste of NH4Cl and ZnCl2. In reality, a dry cell will
function only as long as the paste in the cell is moist.
Moreover, you cannot recharge a dry cell. So, naturally,
the dry cells do not have an indefinite life. This is
because the NH4Cl paste is acidic in nature and it goes
on corroding the zinc container even when it isn’t in use.
Mercury cell :-
Mercury cell is recently introduced in the market. It
offers a rather more stable voltage. The emf of the
Mercury Cell is 1.35 V. Usually, the mercury cell is
costlier. This is the reason, why they are used only
in sophisticated instruments such as camera, hearing
aids, and watches etc. Amalgamated zinc plate coated
with a steel top plate acts as anode in Mercury cell.
A paste of Hg, HgO and carbon powder acts as the
cathode. It is placed in contact with the outer steel
case. The electrolyte is a paste of KOH saturated with
Zn(OH)2. An inert porous material carries this paste.
The two electrodes are separated by an insulation seal
of neoprene rubber.

The reactions during discharge are,

At anode: Zn(Hg) + 2OH– →Zn (OH)2 + 2e–

At cathode: HgO + H2O + 2e– →Hg + 2OH–

Overall reaction: Zn(Hg) + HgO(s) →Zn(OH)2+ Hg(l)

Lead Storage Cell :-
Each battery consists of a number of voltaic cells
connected in series. Three to six such cells are
generally combined to get 6 to 12 volt battery.

a) The anode is a grid of lead packed with finely

divided spongy lead and the cathode is a grid of lead
packed with PbO2.

b) The electrolyte is aqueous solution of sulphuric

acid.
c) At the anode, lead is oxidised to Pb2+ ions and
Insoluble PbSO4, is formed. At the cathode PbO2, Is
reduced to Pb2+ lons and PbSO4 Is formed.
The following reactions take place in the lead storage
cell:

At anode
The lead loses two electrons and is oxidised to Pb2+
ions.
Pb(s) Pb2+(aq) +2 e
Pb2+(aq) + SO42 (aq) -> PbSO4(s)
The overall anode reaction may be written as:
Pb(s) + SO4(aq) > PbSO4(s) + 2e
At cathode
The PbO2 is reduced as:
PbO2 (s) +4 H+ +2e--> Pb2+(aq) + 2 H₂O
PbO2 (s) + SO42-(aq) ->PbSO4(5)
The overall cathode reaction is:

PbO2 (s) + 4 H+ +2e + SO4(aq) > PbSO4(s) + 2 H2O

Pb(s) + SO42-(aq) -> PbSO4(s) + 2e
PbO2 (s) + 4 H+ +2e+ SO42-(aq) PbSO4(s) + 2 H2O
Pb(s) + PbO2 (s) + 2 H2SO4 (aq) 2 PbSO4(s) + 2 H₂O

During the working of the cell PbSO4 is formed at each

electrode and sulphuric acid is used up. As a result, the
concentration of H2SO4 decreases and the density of
the solution also decreases.
Recharging the Battery
The cell can be charged by passing electric current of a
suitable voltage in the opposite direction. The
electrode reaction gets reversed.
As a result, the flow of electrons gets reversed and
lead is deposited on anode and PbO2 on the cathode.
The density of sulphuric acid also Increases.

The reaction may be Written as

ZPbSO4 (5)+2H2O-->Pb(s) + PbO2 (s) +2H2SO4

When it is used to start the engine of the automobile, it

acts as a voltaic cell and produces electric energy.
During recharging, it acts as an electrolytic cell.
Nickel Cadmium Storage Cell :-

This is also a rechargeable cell. It has longer life than

the lead storage cell but more expensive than lead
storage battery. However, it has some advantages
because it is smaller and lighter. It can be used in
portable and cordless appliances.

1) It consists of a cadmium anode and a metal grid

containing NiO₂ acting as a cathode.

2) The electrolyte in this cell is KOH.

The reactions taking place during
Discharge and charge are:
Anode:
Cd(s)+20HCdO(s) +H2O(l) + 2e
Cathode:
2NI(OH3) (s) + 2e 2Ni(OH)2(s) +20H (aq)
Cd(s)+ 2NI(OH3) (s) CdO(s) + 2NI(OH)2(s) + H₂O(1)
The reaction products generally remain sticking to the
electrodes and can be reconverted by recharging the
cell. The charging process is similar to lead storage
battery. It produces a potential of about 1.4 V.
 Fuel Cells :-
These are voltaic cells in which the reactants are
continuously supplied to the electrodes. These are
designed to convert the energy from the combustion
of fuels such as H, CO, CH4, etc. directly into electrical
energy.

1) In this cell, hydrogen and oxygen are bubbled

through a porous carbon electrode into concentrated
aqueous sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

2) Hydrogen (the fuel) is fed into the anode

compartment where it is oxidised.

3) The oxygen is fed into cathode compartment where

it is reduced.
The reactions are:
Anode:
2[H2(g)+ 2OH (aq) --->2H₂O(1)+2e^]

Cathode:
O2(g)+ 2H2O(l) + 4e >40H (aq)
2H2(g) +02(g)-> 2H₂O (I)
Each electrode is made of porous compressed carbon
containing a small amount of catalyst (Pt, Ag or CoO).
These fuel cells are more efficient than conventionally
used methods of generating electricity on a large scale
by burning hydrogen, carbon fuels because these fuel
cells convert the energy of the fuel directly into
electricity.

Advantages of fuel cells over ordinary

batteries :
1) High efficiency :- The fuel cells convert the energy
of a fuel directly into electricity and therefore, they are
more efficient than the conventional methods of
generating electricity on a large scale by burning
hydrogen, carbon fuels. The conventional methods of
production of electrical energy Involve combustion of
a fuel to liberate heat which is then used to produce
electricity. The efficiency of these methods is only
about 40%.
2) Continuous source of energy :- There is no electrode
material to be replaced as in ordinary battery. The fuel
can be fed continuously to produce power.

(3) Pollution free working :-There are no

objectionable by-products and, therefore, they do not
cause pollution problems.
For finalizing of this project , I have taken help from
the following sources along with the guidance of my
respected teacher Mrs. Poonam Mishra :-

M.S. Word

NCERT Chemistry Textbook

Internet explorer

www.topper.com

www.classnotes.org.in

www.wikipedia.com