Cells & Batteries Flashcards

All 7 cards in this deck

What is needed to make a simple chemical cell?

Two different metals as electrodes, dipped in an electrolyte and connected by wires in a complete circuit.

What is a battery, and what voltage does it give?

e.g. four 1.5 V cells joined together

Two or more cells connected in series; their voltages add to give a greater voltage.

e.g. $4 \times 1.5 = 6$ V

Why do non-rechargeable cells and batteries stop producing electricity?

The chemical reactions stop when one of the reactants has been used up.

True or false? A rechargeable cell can be recharged because the chemical reactions in it are reversed when an external electrical current is supplied.

True. Alkaline batteries cannot be recharged in this way — they are non-rechargeable.

What are the steps to deduce an order of reactivity from the voltages of cells made from different metals?

e.g. metals each paired with copper give Mg 2.7 V, Zn 1.1 V, Ag 0.5 V

1. Compare the voltages: the higher the positive voltage, the more reactive the metal.
2. Order from highest to lowest voltage: Mg, Zn, Ag (most to least reactive).
3. Justify: the greater the difference in reactivity of the two metals, the greater the voltage.

Name two factors that affect the voltage produced by a chemical cell.

The type of electrode (the metals used) and the type of electrolyte.

True or false? Changing the electrolyte in a simple cell has no effect on the voltage produced.

False. The voltage depends on the type of electrolyte as well as the type of electrode.