Limitations Of Mercury Cell

Mercury Cell is one kind of cell that is not rechargeable, or non-reusable, which means that the electric cell generates current through an irreversible chemical reaction.

In a mercury battery, it is used as a cathode in which reduction occurs, and the zinc compound functions as an anode where an oxidation reaction occurs. Mercury batteries use either pure mercuric dioxide or a combination of mercuric oxide and manganese dioxide for the cathode. Mercury oxide batteries are made using a zinc anode, mercury oxide cathode, and sodium hydroxide or potassium as electrolytes. Since mercury oxide is not a conductor, a small amount of graphite is mixed. This prevents the accumulation of mercury in large droplets. In discharge, the zinc is oxidised to zinc oxide, and mercuric oxide is reduced to elemental mercury. A small amount of mercuric oxide is added to the cell to prevent the development of hydrogen gas when it reaches the end of its time.

Creation Of Mercury Cell

Sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide, is utilised for electrolytes in a mercury-based battery. These cells can provide constant voltage even at low discharge currents, making them perfect for use in hearing aids, computers, or electronic wristwatches. Potassium hydroxide cells, which in turn, offer continuous voltage even at higher currents and are suitable for devices that require high currents, like photographic cameras that have flash or watches that have backlights. Potassium hydroxide cells have superior performance in lower temperatures.

In creating a mercury cell in the mercury cell process, sodium forms an amalgam (a mix composed of 2 metals) with a mercury cathode. The amalgam is reacted with water inside a different reaction called a decomposer in which hydrogen gas and a caustic soda solution of 50% are generated.

The mercury process requires the most electricity. However, there is no need for steam to make the acidic solution more concentrated. The mercury process requires precautions to avoid environmental contamination. Additionally, mercury must be removed from hydrogen gas and the caustic soda solution.

Today, mercury-based Chlor alkali production has been eliminated, and the technology is no longer used in Europe.

Cell Types

Primary cells aren’t refillable and are usually removed following the internal reaction of the cell that has consumed the reactive beginning chemical.

Secondary cells are rechargeable and can be used multiple times.

• Cellular primary

  • Zinc-carbon cell

  • The cell is alkaline.

  • A cell made of lithium

  • Mercury cell

  • Silver-oxide cell

• Secondary cell

  • Nickel-cadmium cell

  • Cell with lithium-ion

  • Nickel-metal Hydride cell

Limitations of Mercury Cell

• Economic and environmental issues Mercury vapour inhalation can be harmful to the human body, including kidneys, organs and nervous system, the eye, digestive system, skin, and immune systems. 

• Risky for the growth of children in the uterus and the early stages of youngsters.

• Mercury batteries were quite popular during the 20th century and were utilised in various ordinary appliances of all sizes and shapes.

• The advantages that the battery has are its durability and constant voltage output.

• Mercury batteries use mercury compounds as the cathode and an anode of zinc.

• As with other batteries that depended on heavy metals, Mercury batteries were phased out under the Battery Act, which sought to limit the negative environmental effects of discarded batteries.

Electrolytes in Mercury Cell

Potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide are utilised for electrolytes. The cells of sodium hydroxide have almost continuous voltages at low discharge currents, which makes them perfect as hearing aids, calculators, and electronic watches. Potassium hydroxide cells provide continuous voltage even at higher voltages and are suitable for high currents applications, e.g., photography cameras equipped with flash and watches with a backlight. Potassium hydroxide cells have higher performance when temperatures are lower. Mercury cells have a very long shelf life, ranging from 10 years.

The Battery Act

In the year 1996 in 1996, 1996 the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act was adopted into law in the United States. The intention behind the law was to decrease heavy metals found in municipal waste, streams, and groundwater. This was due to removing mercury in single-use batteries, and other toxic metals like lead in lead-acid batteries and Cadmium found that rechargeable batteries contain. Therefore, the law aimed to phase out any use of mercury within batteries because of the environmental harm it caused.

Conclusion

Mercury cell is a form in the primary batteries. Primarily batteries, the charging process takes place only once, and after it has been used for some time, the battery dies and cannot be used again.

Mercury cells are more beneficial than dry cells because dry cells have a limited life span due to the transformation of zinc into zinc chloride, which causes the zinc casing to become porous. Due to the porous nature of the casing, the material within the cell leaks out and corrodes the metal, decreasing the cell’s lifespan.

In the case of the mercury cell, the reaction generally doesn’t involve the formation of any ions within the solution, and the concentration of the solution can alter throughout its life.