|
All lead-acid
batteries operate on the same fundamental reactions. As the battery
discharges, the active materials in the electrodes (lead dioxide in the
positive electrode and sponge lead in the negative electrode) react with
sulfuric acid in the electrolyte to form lead sulfate and water. On
recharge, the lead sulfate on both electrodes converts back to lead dioxide
(positive) and sponge lead (negative), and the sulfate ions (SO42
) are driven back into the electrolyte solution to form sulfuric acid. The
reactions involved in the cell are:
At the positive electrode:
PbO2 + 3H+ +
HSO4- + 2e- <<
Charge / Discharge >> PbSO4 + 2H2O
At the negative electrode:
Pb + HSO4- << Charge / Discharge >> PbSO4 + H+ +
2e-
Overall cell:
PbO2 + Pb + 2H2SO4 << Charge / Discharge >> 2PbSO4 + 2H2O
 Back to top
|
