The alkaline battery is the most common and versatile type of battery used to power various devices. It gets its name from the alkaline electrolyte it contains, potassium chloride.
Principle of operation
Each alkaline battery has two ends, or poles, a positive and a negative terminal. Inside the battery, a chemical reaction creates free electrons that collect at the negative pole. However, if the negative terminal in the circuit is not connected to the positive terminal, the chemical reaction stops and no more electricity is generated. It is for this reason that an alkaline battery can lie on the shelf for a long time and still have enough energy to operate. When not in use, the battery does not discharge over a long period of time.
Typically, the battery is used as a source of energy when a device is connected to it. For example, an electric motor, a light bulb in a flashlight, or a radio. Electrons flow out of the negative terminal of the battery and travel through the wire to the device. These electrons then transfer energy to the device and travel to the positive terminal of the battery. This completes the circuit, allowing the chemical reaction to continue and the battery to generate more electrons. When the device is turned off, the circuit is opened so that the electrons can no longer circulate. Thus, the battery stops producing electrons as the terminals are no longer connected.
The history of the invention of alkaline batteries
Invented in the 1960s, the alkaline battery is one of the most modern types of batteries in use. The first battery was created by the scientist Alessandro Volta in 1800. Volta created his battery by alternating layers of zinc, paper soaked in salt water and silver. The more layers there were, the higher the voltage was obtained in such a battery. This type of battery was known as the Volt Pole. Modern alkaline batteries still use the same principles as the Voltaic Pillar, namely two different types of metal, separated by a liquid that conducts electricity, with negative and positive terminals.
New battery type
One of the latest advances has been the creation of a reusable alkaline battery. The use of new substances and materials makes it possible not only to charge such a battery, in contrast to a traditional alkaline battery, but also to maintain a charge for many years, unlike other types of batteries. These batteries represent energy storage that is available to the consumer, on the one hand, and does not harm the environment, on the other.
