Chemical and Fuel Cells

Question 1

What are the three types of cells used today?

Answer 1

• Non-rechargeable cells.
• Rechargeable cells.
• Fuel cells

Question 2

What are some examples of rechargeable batteries?

Answer 2

• Nickel and cadmium batteries, used for general AA batteries.
• Lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries, used in laptops.

Question 3

What is an example of a non-rechargeable battery?

Answer 3

Alkaline batteries.

Question 4

How does a non-rechargeable cell work?

Answer 4

• They provide electrical energy until one of the reactants is used up causing the voltage to fall.
• The cell is then ‘flat’ and discarded.
• This is because the reaction in non-rechargeable cells are irreversible.

Question 5

How does a cell work?

Answer 5

A cell converts chemical energy (from a chemical reaction) into electrical energy.

Question 6

How are cells/batteries rechargeable?

Answer 6

In rechargeable cells/batteries the chemical reaction can be reversed when an external electrical current
is supplied.