Seethrough Lead-Acid Battery
Three of the sides of this three-cell, six volt, lead-acid battery are transparent so that the inner construction of the battery may be observed.
Curriculum Notes
This demo would be appropriate for a unit on electrochemistry.
Lead Time
One day of lead time is required for this project.
Discussion
The half-cell reactions for a lead acid battery when it is discharging are:
- Pb(s) + SO42-(aq) --> PbSO4(s) +2e-; Eo = 0.356 V
- PbO2(s) + SO42-(aq) +4H+ + 2e- -->PbSO4(s) +2H2O(l);Eo=1.685 V
Materials
- seethrough lead-acid battery
Procedure
The battery may be presented to the class and students can be invited to inspect it after class.
Safety Precautions
There is no electrolyte in this battery, so you don't need to worry about spills. It is heavy, so be careful handling it.
Prep. Notes
This demo is in the prepared demos cabinet.
