Type of cell

Negative pole
(Anode)
Positive pole
(Cathode)
Electrolyte
Oxidation
reaction
Reduction
reaction
Over all
reaction
Symbolic
E.M.F.

Dry cell
Primary cell
Zn
Wet past of MnO2
Closed to (C)rode
ZnCl2, NH4Cl or mix.
Zn Zn+2 +2e2Mn +4O2 +2e
2Mn+3 O(OH)
Zn +2MnO2+2NH4+
Zn+2+2MnO(OH)+
2NH3
Zn /Zn+2//2Mn+4/2Mn+3
1.5 volt

mercury
Primary cell
Zn

Alkaline Ni-Cd
Secondary cell
Cd

Lead accumulator
Secondary cell
Spongy (Pb)

HgO

(Ni)

PbO2

KOH
Zn Zn+2 +2e-

KOH
Cd Cd+2+2e-

Dil .H2SO4,40% d=1.28-1.3 g/cm3

Pb Pb+2+2e-

Hg+2+2e- Hg

2Ni+3+2e- 2Ni+2

PbO2+4H++2e- Pb+2+2H2O

Zn +HgO
Cd +2NiO(OH)+2H2O Pb+PbO2+2H2SO4
ZnO+Hg Cd(OH)2+2Ni(OH)2 2PbSO4+2H2O water evolved makes
Zn
+2
/Zn //Hg+2/Hg
1.35 volt

Primary cell
It is the galvanic cell in which,
1-Storage chemical energy converted to electric
energy through (spontaneous irreversible redox
reaction)
2-not easy to be recharged
3-Ex. Dry cell. Mercury cell

Cd /Cd+2//2Ni+3/2Ni+2
1.3 volt

decrease of acid concentration.

+2
+4

Pb /Pb //Pb /Pb+2

2x6=12 volt

Secondary cell
It is the galvanic cell in which,
1-Storage chemical energy converted to electric
energy through (spontaneous reversible redox
reaction )
2- Easy to be recharged
3-Ex. Lead accumulator alkaline
Ni-Cd cell

Galvanic cell
1-Storage chemical energy converted to electric
energy through (spontaneous redox reaction)
2-Anode is negative pole and oxidation takes place
3-Cathode is positive pole and reduction takes
place

Electrolytic cell
1- Electric energy converted to chemical energy
through( no spontaneous redox reaction)
2- Anode is positive pole and oxidation takes place
3-Cathode is negative pole and reduction takes
place

Cu+2

N.B. Galvanic cell can be represented by the symbolic

M/M++
//
X++/ X
At anode
salt bridge at cathode
Oxidation
Reduction
Reducing agent
oxidizing agent

Cl-