In lead acid cell, how is the number of electrons transferred equal to the number of moles of H2SO4 consumed?
Answers
A lead storage battery, also known as a lead-acid battery, is the oldest type of rechargeable battery and one of the most common energy storage devices. These batteries were invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté, and they are still used in a variety of applications. Most people are accustomed to using them in vehicles, where they have the ability to provide high currents for cranking power.
Although the batteries are reliable, they have a limited life, are heavy to ship, and contain toxic materials that require specific removal methods at the end of their useful life. Lead-acid batteries have moderate power density and good response time. Depending on the power conversion technology incorporated, batteries can go from accepting energy to supplying energy instantaneously. Lead-acid batteries are affected by temperature and must be maintained in order to achieve maximum life expectancy.
Designing a Lead Battery
In Planté’s design of the lead-acid cell, the positive and negative plates were made out of two spirals of lead foil, separated with a sheet of cloth, and coiled up. The cells initially had low capacity. A slow process of “forming” was required to corrode the lead foils, creating lead dioxide on the plates and roughening them to increase surface area. Planté plates are still used in some stationary applications, where the plates are mechanically grooved to increase surface area.