Unit D Lesson 4: Battery Basics
Completion requirements
Unit D Lesson 4: Battery Basics
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Learning Targets |
Big Question: What are the basics of batteries?
Humans have a large amount of influence over the types and amounts of chemicals found in the environment.
Humans have a large amount of influence over the types and amounts of chemicals found in the environment.
At the end of this inquiry, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- What is the difference between a dry cell and a wet cell?
- What are the key components of an electro-chemical cell?
- What is the difference between a primary cell and a secondary cell?
Pages 288 to 292 in your textbook will help you answer these questions about batteries.
Introduction
Batteries
Did you know that you can make a battery with things you might find in your kitchen?
All you need is a lemon, a copper penny, and a zinc-plated nail. Could you make a battery with a lemon and 2 copper pennies?
Did you know that you can make a battery with things you might find in your kitchen?
All you need is a lemon, a copper penny, and a zinc-plated nail. Could you make a battery with a lemon and 2 copper pennies?
How does something we eat and use in our everyday lives power a device? How can we make a battery stronger? Carry on to learn the battery basics.
Batteries are an excellent way to store electricity in a portable fashion. "Battery" is the common word used to describe two or more electrochemical cells . An electrochemical cell uses chemicals to produce electrical energy.
Batteries are an excellent way to store electricity in a portable fashion. "Battery" is the common word used to describe two or more electrochemical cells . An electrochemical cell uses chemicals to produce electrical energy.
An electrochemical cell needs two things to make electricity:
Recall from the introduction that all it takes is two different metals and an acidic electrolyte to form a battery. This need not be an elaborate mechanism; even a penny, a nail, and a lemon will create electricity. (.....but pennies are rare now!)
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Electrolyte: a solution or a paste that is able to conduct electricity (an acid or salt solution). Electrolytes have lots of free ions, making them excellent for conducting electricity. Liquids such as distilled water or oils do not have free ions, so they cannot serve as electrolytes. In many electrochemical cells, electrolytes are also needed to cause chemical reactions with the electrodes, so electrolytes that are strong acids are good choices.
- Electrodes: two different metals to make an electric current (A chemical reaction between the electrolyte and the electrodes produces the electricity).
Recall from the introduction that all it takes is two different metals and an acidic electrolyte to form a battery. This need not be an elaborate mechanism; even a penny, a nail, and a lemon will create electricity. (.....but pennies are rare now!)
Every battery has a positive side (anode) and a negative side (cathode). Electrons flow from the negative electrode to the positive electrode with the electrolyte solution existing between the travel points.
Watch
To help you review an electrochemical cell, watch
"How to Make a Battery".
Watch the video "How to Make a Lemon Battery".
Did you know batteries make cell phones possible? Watch "Batteries and How They Work".
Battery Cells
A wet cell uses a liquid as the electrolyte versus a dry cell that uses a paste for the electrolyte. Car batteries are wet cells because they use liquid sulfuric acid. Regular store-bought batteries (alkaline batteries) are called dry cells because they use a paste instead of a liquid.
If you would like further reading about electrochemical cells, the website "How Stuff Works - How Batteries Work" has good explanations about cells and batteries.
Click here to visit the website "How Stuff Works".
A wet cell uses a liquid as the electrolyte versus a dry cell that uses a paste for the electrolyte. Car batteries are wet cells because they use liquid sulfuric acid. Regular store-bought batteries (alkaline batteries) are called dry cells because they use a paste instead of a liquid.
If you would like further reading about electrochemical cells, the website "How Stuff Works - How Batteries Work" has good explanations about cells and batteries.
Click here to visit the website "How Stuff Works".
Figure 1 – Wet Cells are used as car batteries.
Figure 2 – Dry Cells are a common alkaline battery.
Watch
Watch "HHO Wet Cell vs. Dry Cell- Why is the Dry Cell Better?"
How does a car battery last so long? Watch "How Lead Batteries Are Made" to learn about how lead car batteries are made.
How does a car's electrical system work so that car battery is constantly recharged? Watch "How a Lead-Acid Battery Works" to learn how.
Some batteries can be recharged and then reused, including the common car battery. These are secondary cells. If a cell or battery cannot be recharged, they are primary cells. Watch "How Batteries Work" to see the difference between primary
and secondary cells.
Try It!
Practice Worksheet: What is an Electrochemical Cell?
- DOWNLOAD this practice worksheet (S9_UD_S1_L4a_electrochem_cell1). If you prefer to use a Google Drive or PDF version of the worksheet, click here.
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Open Chrome or Firefox, go to LearnAlberta.ca and enter your login ID and password.
- Username: LA48
- Password: 1958
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Click "Grade 9" in the grade section, and then click "Science" in the subject section. Type "Battery" into the key words. Click “What is an Electrochemical Cell?” on the right-hand side to open the simulation. *Please note that you need Adobe Flash activated on your computer for this simulation to work. If you cannot get this simulation to work, don't worry, this activity and worksheet is optional. Just make sure to read pages 288-292 in the Science in Action textbook
carefully.
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Answer the worksheet questions while working through the simulation. You can also use your textbook pages 288 to 292 to help answer the questions on the worksheet.
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When you are satisfied with your responses you can check your work by clicking on the "SUGGESTED ANSWERS" button below.
Wait! Don't view the suggested answers first. This practice work is not for marks, it is meant to help you check your understanding. Check the answers AFTER doing the questions! Keep the practice worksheet for study purposes. If you don't understand something, contact your teacher!
1. Two or more electrochemical cells connected together.
2. Six 1.5V cells.
3. Chemical energy to electrical energy.
4. Wet cell has a liquid electrolyte and is not sealed, and the dry cell has a paste electrolyte and is sealed shut.
5.
2. Six 1.5V cells.
3. Chemical energy to electrical energy.
4. Wet cell has a liquid electrolyte and is not sealed, and the dry cell has a paste electrolyte and is sealed shut.
5.
- chemicals that will react
- an electrolyte
- two electrodes
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two terminals (a positive and negative terminal)
6.
- apron
- gloves
- safety glasses
Try It!
Practice Worksheet: Modifying Electrochemical Cells
- DOWNLOAD this practice worksheet (S9_UD_S1_L4b_electrochem_cell2). If you prefer to use a Google Drive or PDF version of the worksheet, click here.
- Open Chrome or Firefox, go to LearnAlberta.ca, and enter your login ID and password.
- UN: LA48
-
PW: 1958
-
Click "Grade 9" in the grade section, and then click "Science" in the subject section. Type "Battery" into the key words. Click "Modifying Electrochemical Cells" on the right-hand side to open the
simulation. *Please note that you need Adobe Flash activated on your computer for this simulation to work. If you cannot get this simulation to work, don't worry, this activity and worksheet is optional. Just make sure to read pages 288-292
in the Science in Action textbook carefully.
-
Complete the worksheet.
-
When you are satisfied with your responses you can check your work by clicking on the "SUGGGESTED ANSWERS" button below.
Wait! Don't view the suggested answers first. This practice work is not for marks, it is meant to help you check your understanding. Check the answers AFTER doing the questions! Keep the practice worksheet for study purposes. If you don't understand something, contact your teacher!
Interactive
Batteries
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Click here to watch the BrainPOP video "Batteries" to find out. You will need a username and password to access the video.
- Username: 0099
- Password: students
- Click here to take the review quiz on Batteries. Select the classic quiz option. Be sure you check your answers at the end.