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Electrochemistry

Question
CBSEENCH12005970

Write the cell reactions which occur in lead storage battery (i) when the battery is in use and (ii) when the battery is on charging.

Solution
(i) The cell reactions during the use (discharge) of lead storage battery are:

The cell reactions when the battery is in use are given below:

Anode: Pb(s) + SO42-(aq)   PbSO4 + 2e-

Cathode:PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq)  + SO42-(aq)  PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)

i.e., overall cell reaction consisting of cathode and anode reactions is:

Pb(s) +PbO2 +4H+(aq) +SO42-(aq)  2PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)

ii) Recharging a lead-acid cell:

  • is a non-spontaneous redox reaction (E(redox) is negative), that is, an electrolytic process
  • requires an input of slightly more than 2 volts per cell to drive the spontaneous reactions in the reverse direction
  • converts electrical energy back into chemical energy which is stored in the lead, lead dioxide and sulfuric acid in the cell
The cell reaction is:
At Anode:
PbSO4(s) + 2e-  Pb(s) +SO42-(aq)At Cathode:PbO2(s) + 2H2O(l) PbSO4 +SO42-overall net reaction 2PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l) Pb(s) +PbO2(s) +4H+ (aq) +2SO42-