Batteries and Fuel Cells
Batteries and Fuel Cells: Overview
This topic discusses the functioning of a battery. It is a source of electric current at constant voltage from galvanic cells. The details of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells and their advantages are also discussed here.
Important Questions on Batteries and Fuel Cells
What is a Battery? Describe the mercury cell.

What is a mercury cell? Give the electrode reactions.

Write the name of the cell which is generally used in hearing aids. Write the reactions taking place at the anode and the cathode of this cell.

Which cell is generally used in the hearing aids? Name the material of the anode, cathode and the electrolyte. Write the reactions involved.

For the hydrogen-oxygen reaction: and . Calculate the efficiency of the Ideal Fuel Cell.

For the hydrogen-oxygen reaction: and . The efficiency of the Ideal Fuel Cell is .

Mercury cell consists of zinc – mercury amalgam as cathode.

Describe the reactions that occur in mercury cell.

Which anode is used in mercury cell?

Button cells are used in portable electronic devices.

In the silver oxide button cell, zinc act as a cathode.

The biggest difference between the two is that a battery stores energy, while a fuel cell generates energy by converting available _____.

Galvanic cells that are designed to convert the energy of combustion of fuels like hydrogen, methane, methanol, etc. directly into electrical energy are called fuel cells.

While charging the lead storage battery ______.

State the energy conversions in a dry cell.

Write electrode reactions and overall cell reaction when lead accumulator behaves as an electrolytic cell.

Write electrode reactions and overall cell reaction during the operation of lead storage cell.


Explain the charging process of lead storage battery with chemical reactions.

Write the chemistry of recharging the lead storage battery, highlighting all the materials that are involved during recharging.
