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Question
What type of battery is mercury cell? Why is it more advantageous than dry cell?
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Solution
Mercury cell is a type of primary battery. In primary batteries, the charging reaction occurs only once and after it has been used over a period of time, the battery becomes dead and cannot be reused.
Mercury cell is more advantageous than dry cell because dry cell has a very short life span due to the conversion of zinc to zinc chloride that makes the zinc casing porous. Due to this porous casing, the substance inside the cell leaks out and corrodes the metal, reducing the lifetime of the cell. While, in the case of mercury cell, the overall reaction does not involve formation of any ion in the solution whose concentration can change during its life time.
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(i) Which cell is used in hearing aids?
(ii) Which cell was used in Apollo Space Programme?
(iii) Which cell is used in automobiles and inverters?
(iv) Which cell does not have long life?
Name the type of cell which was used in Apollo space programme for providing electrical power.
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In the button cells widely used in watches and other devices, the following reaction takes place:
\[\ce{Zn_{(s)} + Ag2O_{(s)} + H2O_{(l)} -> Zn{^{2+}_{(aq)}} + 2Ag_{(s)} + 2OH^-_{ (aq)}}\]
Determine ΔrG° and E° for the reaction.
Without losing its concentration; ZnCl2 solution cannot be kept in contact with
Why does the cell voltage of a mercury cell remain constant during its lifetime?
Give reasons:
Mercury cell delivers a constant potential during its life time.
