A lead acid battery comprises acid and lead sheets we call electrolyte and electrodes. Those lead sheets are either like hard sponges, or they are porous. These characteristics enable the lead sheets to interact with the sulfuric acid-water solution surrounding them. Lead acid battery chemistry describes how those materials behave to make energy. Finally, there are porous membranes keeping the battery terminals separate.
Lead Acid Battery Is Reversible Chemistry
Single use batteries use one-off chemistry. After they discharge their energy, they go for recycling so their materials find new uses. However, lead acid batteries are able to repeat the energy cycle many times. Three things happen when we take energy from them:
1… Sulphur separates from the sulfuric acid solution and settles in crystals on the battery terminals.
2… This alters the lead acid battery terminal chemistry causing a reaction releasing electrons.
3… This process uses some of the active chemical sulfur in the sulfuric acid electrolyte solution.
However, if we allow this process to continue then all the sulfur will eventually move onto the terminals. At this stage the two terminals have the same chemical composition and the electrochemical reaction ceases.
Why We Should Avoid Fully Discharging Lead Acid Batteries
PVE Education explains how larger lead sulfate crystals form on battery terminals if the battery is fully discharged. These are more stubborn, and may not allow the battery to return to its original state.
So instead we should allow the battery to discharge normally, until we notice the voltage is dropping. Then at that point we should recharge the battery to return it to its original state. If we follow this disciplined approach the battery should last longer, and there will be a saving for us! Lead acid battery technology is quite simple when we know how.
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