BRAINCAKEElectrochemical Cells
Electrochemical cells are used as a source of electrical energy. They are made of two half cells with different electrode potentials. There are three main types: Non-rechargeable cells, rechargeable cells and fuel cells. With non-rechargeable cells the reactions continue until the reactants are used up. The voltage then drops and the cell gets flat. It is then discarded.
AA batteries consist of a zinc anode and cathode made of a a carbon rod full of granules of manganese (IV) oxide in a paste of ammonium chloride (electrolyte). Alkaline batteries have sodium hydroxide as the electrolyte. At the anode zinc is oxidised.:
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Key terms in this lesson
- electrochemical cell
- A cell made by connecting two half cells together, which generates a voltage from the redox reactions taking place in the half cells.
- fuel cell
- A cell that uses the energy from the reaction of a fuel with oxygen to create a voltage, with reactants supplied continuously and products removed continuously.
More in Electrochemistry
- Standard Electrode Potential Eθ and the Electrochemical Series
- Calomel Electrode
- Standard Cell Potentials Eθcell Values and Electrochemical Cells
- Non-Standard Conditions
- Cell Diagrams
- Thermodynamic Feasibility of a Reaction and the Extent of a Reaction
- Rechargeable Batteries
- Alkaline Fuel Cells
All 14 lessons in Electrochemistry · All OCR A-level Chemistry topics