The word "battery" is commonly thought of in its dry cell form; the batteries used to power watches, computers, phones, toys and flashlights are all dry cell batteries. Wet cell batteries are not commonly thought of, but they are quite common--car batteries are a ubiquitous example of wet cell batteries.
Definition
A wet cell battery is an electrochemical cell that uses a liquid electrolyte, or medium of exchanging electrons, instead of a pasty electrolyte used in dry cell batteries. A basic wet cell battery could consist of a copper plate and a zinc plate partially immersed in lemon juice. The exposed ends could be connected by wires to complete the circuit, and current would flow from one plate through the wires to the second plate, and then through the lemon juice back to the first plate.
History
The battery itself may possibly date back to around 2,000 years ago. A pottery jar was discovered in modern-day Iraq with an iron rod that housed a copper cylinder. Filled with vinegar, these jars could produce a small amount of current and are thought to have been used to electroplate gold onto silver.
More commonly, the battery's invention is credited to Count Alessandro Volta in 1798, who discovered that different types metals, when placed in a conducting fluid, produced electrical energy. These ideas were further developed into wet cells, which continued to use a fluid conductor, and dry cells which used non-liquid conductors.
Types of Wet Cells
Wet cells, like dry cells, fall into two main categories: primary (nonrechargeable) and secondary (rechargeable). In primary cells, the chemical reaction producing electricity is not reversible, so the battery cannot be recharged. Secondary cells use chemical reactions that can be reversed, and thus the battery is able to be recharged.
Car Batteries
The most commonplace application of wet cell batteries are car batteries. Car batteries typically consist of several cells, each of which contain lead, lead oxide, and sulfuric acid as the conducting medium. The cells, linked together in a series, produce more current than a single cell alone. While the car battery, as a consequence of its components, is very heavy, the chemical reaction that occurs is reversible so that the battery can be continually recharged for a long period of time before wearing out.
Car Battery Warnings
Car batteries produce noxious gasses that are flammable, and care should be taken when working with them. The components, sulfuric acid and lead, are also toxic substances; sulfuric acid is a strong acid that will burn skin or eyes on contact. Car batteries are sealed in order to prevent these hazards from occurring, and the seal should never be broken.
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