The Chemistry of Batteries

943 Words2 Pages

Batteries have been around longer than many people tend to think. In 1938, archaeologist Wilhelm Konig discovered some unusual clay pots while digging at a town just outside of present-day Baghdad, Iraq. The jars, which were measured approximately 5 inches long, included an iron rod enclosed in copper and dated back to 200 B.C. Investigations suggested that the vessels had once been complete with an acidic substance like vinegar or wine, leading Konig to think that these vessels were ancient batteries. Since this discovery, scholars have createdimitations of the pots that are able to produce an electric charge.
In 1799, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta made the first battery by piling alternating layers of zinc, cloth, and silver. This procedure, called a voltaic pile, was not the first device to generateelectricity, but it was the first to release a steady, current. However, there were some shortcomings in Volta's creation. The pinnacle at which the layers could be arranged was restricted because the mass of the pile would squash the brine out of the cloth. The metal discs also tended to crumble quickly, reducing the life of the battery. Despite these deficiencies, the SI unit of electromotive force is now called a volt in honor of Volta's accomplishment.

The next discovery in battery technology came in 1836 when English chemist John Frederick Daniell designed the Daniell cell. In this initial battery, a copper plate was positioned at the bottom of a glass jar and a copper sulfate solution was cascaded over the plate to fill the jar halfway. Then, the zinc plate was draped in the jar, and a zinc sulfate solution was added. The zinc solution drifted to the top of the copper solution and bordered the zinc platebecause copper ...

... middle of paper ...

...y. However, LiOn batteries are not presently available in standard sizes such as AAA, AA, C or D, and they're noticeably more expensive than their older equivalents.
Charging can be tricky with NiCd and NiMH batteries, because people must be careful not to overcharge them, as this could lead to reduced capacity. To inhibit this from happening, some chargers simply shut off when charging is complete. NiCd and NiMH batteries also must be serviced, meaning a person should completely discharge and recharge them again every once in a while to curtail any loss in capacity. LiOn batteries, on the other hand, have refined chargers that prevent overcharging and never need to be tuned.Even rechargeable batteries will in time die, though it may take hundreds of charges before that happens. When they eventually do run out, make certain to dispose them at a recycling facility.

Open Document