14.

1 Cells and Batteries

 Origins of the Cell
• Galvani (late 1700’s) observed a frog’s leg
twitch when exposed to a current
• Volta (early 1800’s) realized it was due to
current flowing through electrolytes in body
• Volta invented the first battery by
connecting multiple electric cells together
• Based on spontaneous redox rxtn’s it was
able to produce a consistent current
 Cell design
• “Cells” are containers of liquid with electrodes:
Source or use
of electricity
Cell Electrode
–
–
+
+
Molten or
– + aqueous
chemicals
• In “voltaic cells”, electricity is produced
spontaneously from a redox reaction
• In “electrolytic cells”, electricity is used to force
chemicals to undergo a redox reaction
 Voltaic Cell
• also referred to as a “galvanic cell”
• salt bridge or porous disk(cup) used to allow for
unrelated ions to move to allow for balance of charge
 Cell Properties
- driving force on electron to move them through the
wire
• electric potential difference is the energy difference
per unit charge
• depends on type of electrodes and electrolytes used in
cells
• electric current is rate of flow of charge in a circuit
• power is the rate at which electrical energy is
produced
 Cell Quantities
Quantity Symbol Meter Units
Charge Q C (coulombs)
Current I ammeter A (ampere)
Potential V voltmeter V (volt)
difference
Power P W (watt)
Energy J/kg
density
 Secondary Cells & Batteries
 a battery is a group of galvanic cells
connected in series
 the potentials of the individual cells add
to give the total battery potential
 secondary cells can be recharged by
adding electricity
Figure 7 One of the Cells in a 12-V Lead Storage Battery (LSM 14.1C)
Figure 6 A Common Dry Cell Battery (LSM 14.1C)
 Fuel Cells
. . . voltaic cells where the reactants are
continuously supplied.
2H2(g) + O2(g)  2H2O(l)

anode: 2H2 + 4OH  4H2O + 4e

cathode: 4e + O2 + 2H2O  4OH
Figure 8 Schematic of the Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell (LSM 14.1C)
 Homework

Textbook p. 614 #1-5

Textbook p. 619 #10-15
LSM 14.1 B,C,D