All kinds of power supplies are widely used in various electronic devices. Without them, it is impossible to imagine the work of mobile phones, photo and video cameras, as well as many other devices, the operation of which is based on the use of electricity.
What is a battery?
The battery is the source of a certain amount of energy, which, like a battery, gives strength and nourishes our things. Typically, a battery has positive and negative poles. And each of them carries correspondingly charged ions when the battery is located in the socket.
Each battery has a specific voltage and capacity. The battery voltage ranges from 1.5V to 3V. And its capacity depends on the volume of active elements. Also, the battery capacity is influenced by the level of charge, the mode of its use and, of course, the ambient temperature.
Battery contents
Although at first glance the battery is small, a complex chemical process takes place inside it, as a result of which electrical energy is released. The main components of a battery are the anode, cathode and electrolyte. This is all called an electrochemical system.
Varieties of batteries
There are alkaline, lithium, mercury and saline batteries. Each of them has its own pros and cons to use.
An alkaline battery is often used for electronic devices. By itself, such a battery is the most durable and less likely to leak compared to a salt battery.
A lithium battery has a fairly high and stable level of electrochemical activity, which allows it to be used much longer than an alkaline one.
The mercury battery has a long shelf life, it is resistant to temperature extremes, has a high capacity and energy density. But if the tightness is broken, it becomes toxic, since it is based on mercury.
A saline battery is less resistant to temperature changes and has a shorter shelf life than other batteries.
What to do with used batteries?
Today, there are organizations where you can bring used batteries. In the future, all collected batteries are sent to the plant for their recycling and safe disposal.
Very often, people simply throw out unusable batteries in the trash along with other waste, or they simply flush them down the drain, sometimes without thinking that over time, the battery shell begins to decompose - and all the harmful substances inside are free and directly enter atmosphere.
It is also possible to bring some types of batteries back to life using a special charger that independently determines the type of battery and the time it takes to charge it. Typically, the battery charging time is about four hours.
