Definition of a Dry Cell Battery

Batteries are devices that generate electricity by harvesting electrons from a cell filled with electrolyte material. The type of electrolyte material will determine if the battery is a dry cell or a wet cell. Batteries that contain an acid liquid, such as a car battery, will be wet cell batteries. Batteries that use a paste form of electrolyte will be dry cell batteries.

History

The first batteries in existence were wet cell batteries. Though wet cell batteries were effective, they had numerous drawbacks. Some of these drawbacks included sloshing and leaking of the wet cell when the battery was handled roughly or turned upside down. Wet cells were more fragile, because they were made of glass and had long wire electrodes extending from the top. The solution to these problems was the dry cell battery.

Benefits

Dry cell batteries were more durable and portable, which made them ideal for use in electronic devices. Although they needed a little bit of liquid in the electrolyte chamber to function, the electrolyte material was more of a paste than a liquid, making them more stable and allowing the battery to be handled more roughly. Eventually, a gel electrolyte was invented, making batteries safer as well.

Function

Most all dry cell batteries are constructed similarly. A metal or graphite rod called a cathode is suspended in an electrolyte paste. This is then wrapped in cardboard to form a cell. The cell is sealed in a metal cylinder called an anode. The anode has a positive end and a negative end. When the battery is connected, the cathode and the electrolyte paste create a chemical reaction that allows for the harvesting of electrons. A battery with multiple cells can create a larger voltage. As the electrons are harvested, the battery becomes weaker. When all electrons have been harvested, the battery is unable to create the chemical reaction and is no longer usable.

Features

A common dry cell battery is the zinc carbon battery. These batteries produce approximately 1.5 volts of electricity. In electronics that require larger amounts of electricity, a series of batteries may be connected to form a larger dry cell for powering the device. Though many modern electronics come with their own sealed batteries and a battery charger, some devices, including flashlights and portable stereos, still come with a battery chamber for inserting dry cell batteries.

Types

The most common types of dry cell battery commercially available on the market include watch batteries, D cells, C cells, 9 volt, A, AA, and AAA batteries.

Warning

All batteries contain elements that can harm the environment. Therefore, care should be taken to recycle batteries properly.