Which metal is used in lead-acid battery?
2 Answers
Lead-acid batteries use lead and lead dioxide as the primary metals in their construction. Here’s a breakdown of the key components:
1. **Lead Plates**: The battery has two types of lead plates:
- **Positive Plates**: These are made of lead dioxide (PbO₂).
- **Negative Plates**: These are made of spongy lead (Pb).
2. **Electrolyte**: The electrolyte in a lead-acid battery is sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) diluted with water.
When the battery discharges, the lead dioxide on the positive plates reacts with the sulfuric acid to form lead sulfate (PbSO₄) and water, while the spongy lead on the negative plates also reacts with the sulfuric acid to form lead sulfate and water. When the battery is recharged, these reactions are reversed, regenerating the lead dioxide and spongy lead plates.
Lead-acid batteries are well-known for their reliability and cost-effectiveness, though they are less energy-dense compared to newer battery technologies.
1. **Lead Plates**: The battery has two types of lead plates:
- **Positive Plates**: These are made of lead dioxide (PbO₂).
- **Negative Plates**: These are made of spongy lead (Pb).
2. **Electrolyte**: The electrolyte in a lead-acid battery is sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) diluted with water.
When the battery discharges, the lead dioxide on the positive plates reacts with the sulfuric acid to form lead sulfate (PbSO₄) and water, while the spongy lead on the negative plates also reacts with the sulfuric acid to form lead sulfate and water. When the battery is recharged, these reactions are reversed, regenerating the lead dioxide and spongy lead plates.
Lead-acid batteries are well-known for their reliability and cost-effectiveness, though they are less energy-dense compared to newer battery technologies.
Lead-acid batteries use lead and lead compounds as their primary metals. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the metals involved:
1. **Lead (Pb):** The core metal used in lead-acid batteries is pure lead. Lead is used for both the positive and negative plates of the battery. In the battery, lead is used in its alloyed form to create these plates, which are then covered with a paste of lead oxide (PbO₂) for the positive plates and sponge lead (Pb) for the negative plates.
2. **Lead Oxide (PbO₂):** This is used on the positive plates of the battery. Lead oxide is created through a process known as oxidation, where lead is exposed to oxygen. This compound is essential for the battery’s ability to generate a charge.
3. **Sponge Lead (Pb):** This is used on the negative plates of the battery. Sponge lead is essentially pure lead that has been processed to have a porous structure, which increases the surface area and improves the battery’s performance.
4. **Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄):** While not a metal, sulfuric acid is a crucial component of the lead-acid battery. It acts as the electrolyte, facilitating the chemical reactions between the lead plates and enabling the flow of electrical current.
The battery works by using these metals and the sulfuric acid in a chemical reaction to store and release electrical energy. The lead-acid battery has been in use since the 19th century due to its reliability and cost-effectiveness.
1. **Lead (Pb):** The core metal used in lead-acid batteries is pure lead. Lead is used for both the positive and negative plates of the battery. In the battery, lead is used in its alloyed form to create these plates, which are then covered with a paste of lead oxide (PbO₂) for the positive plates and sponge lead (Pb) for the negative plates.
2. **Lead Oxide (PbO₂):** This is used on the positive plates of the battery. Lead oxide is created through a process known as oxidation, where lead is exposed to oxygen. This compound is essential for the battery’s ability to generate a charge.
3. **Sponge Lead (Pb):** This is used on the negative plates of the battery. Sponge lead is essentially pure lead that has been processed to have a porous structure, which increases the surface area and improves the battery’s performance.
4. **Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄):** While not a metal, sulfuric acid is a crucial component of the lead-acid battery. It acts as the electrolyte, facilitating the chemical reactions between the lead plates and enabling the flow of electrical current.
The battery works by using these metals and the sulfuric acid in a chemical reaction to store and release electrical energy. The lead-acid battery has been in use since the 19th century due to its reliability and cost-effectiveness.