8/7/2019 Batteriez

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From the desk of Martin Duffy

Composition of the typical consumer electric battery

The average consumer battery is simply an electrochemical cell, specifically a galvanic cell.

Batteries are like pumps for electrons, and they increase the self-esteem of poor electronic devices that cant generate their ownelectricity. Electrochemical reactions occur in batteries that produce electrons and these electrons then power electronics byflowing through a complete circuit as a current. Batteries have both positive and negative ends (terminals) to complete acircuit in an electronic device like a remote control. Think of the positive electrode as a nice polite guy whos happy just hangingaround, no electrons attached But then the negative electrode is like a party bus full of drunk people, and when you completethe circuit, they want to get off the bus and bug the positive guys and turn them less positive! Any two metals can be used toproduce a battery (serve as the electrodes), because all metals differ in the rate that they gain and lose electrons. In batteries formany consumer electronics (AA, C, D) the metals used as electrodes are zinc and carbon, and an acidic paste between themserves as an electrolyte. In Energizer and Duracell batteries, the electrodes are zinc and manganese-oxide with an alkaline

electrolyte. The energizer bunny is also made out of love, which is also a great conductor as long as one doesnt overindulge init. To put it simply, when two different types of metals are put in contact or connected, electrons tend to pass from the metal withthe smaller affinity for electrons (positively charged) to the metal with the greater affinity (negatively charged).

In a typical battery, the battery is fully charged and has a surplus of electrons on the anode (negative charge), and a deficit on thecathode (positive charge), and when the circuit is completed (when you plug a battery into something, duh) the electrons flow and

the anode loses electrons and eventually all the atoms become neutral and your battery is shit out of luck and useless and lonelyand low-self esteem, and the only way to make it feel better is to recycle it so it can make new friends with other batteries.

Regular batteries (primary cells) are permanently dead because the electrochemical reaction that takes place is as irreversible asa dolphins smile.

Rechargeable batteries

In secondary cells or rechargeable batteries, the electrochemical reaction is reversible and the original chemical compounds canbe reconstituted by the application of an electrical potential between the electrodes injecting energy into the cell. This injectionprocess is commonly called plug it into an outlet. Such cells can be discharged and recharged many times. The charger stripselectrons from the cathode (with consent hopefully) leaving it with a net positive charge and forces them onto the anode giving ita negative charge. The energy pumped into the cell transforms the active chemicals back to their original state, its like whenguys say no homo to each other, it undoes all the damage.

Common materials of rechargables:

-Car batteries use Lead-acid chemistry, the electrodes are made of lead and lead-oxide.-Nickel-cadmium batteries use nickel-hyroxide and cadmium. (Nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries are largely being replacedby Nickel-metal hydride batteries because cadmium blows)-Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in computers and other expensive devices for its excellent power capacity-to-weightratio. This is because Lithium is a highly reactive element. The other electrode in these batteries is carbon. Of course there isthe oh so lovely chance with these batteries that they will BURST INTO FLAMES, which is never (emotionally) positive.

Recycle the batteries

Batteries are easily recycled, and it is important to recycle them because they contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals, and you

dont want that stuff in the soil and eventually in your breakfast cereal, now do you?

Lead-acid (car) batteries can be grinded, have their acid neutralized, and have polymers separated from the lead in them. Whenrecycled, they can be used for a variety of new applications and even made into new batteries. You can recycle these bad boys atpretty much any retailer that cells batteries. So in New Paltz that would mean autozone, Lowes, True Value and so on.Autozone and Advanced Auto Parts do it for free. Cool.

There are a variety of places where regular dry-cell batteries can be recycled, including municipal sites and for-profit entitiessuch as retailers and sanitation companies. Stores like Best Buy and Office Depot also usually have recycling kiosks in their

stores cost-free. Small batteries from watches or hearing aids can be recycled at their retailers. Websites like earth911.com andcall2recycle.org have more information about where you can recycle your batteries.