Battery Power/Lead Acid Batteries

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The lead-acid cell (usually part of a battery) also works on the principal of redox reactions. In its case the anode is a sheet of metallic lead immersed in H₂SO_4(aq). The lead oxidises according to the following equation:

Pb_(s) + SO₄^2-_(aq) → PbSO_4(s) + 2e^-

The cathode is a sheet of lead dioxide, also immersed in H2SO4(aq), which is reduced:

PbO_2(s) + 4H⁺_(aq) + SO₄^2-_(aq) + 2e^- → PbSO_4(s) + 2H₂O_(l)

Thus the H₂SO₄(aq) is the electrolyte.

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