Batteries Notes...

Chemistry Of Batteries

Chemical Bonds

Covelant bond (a.k.a. molecular bond): Atoms share electrons in their outer orbitals. Weaker bond than ionic bonds. Only form between non metals.

Ionic bond: Atom "donates" electron(s) to its "partner": electron spends most of its time close to the bonded atom. Much stronger than a covelant bond. Can form between metals or nonmetals.

Battery Cells

Battery cells use ionic solutions because the transfer of electrons between atoms can generate electric current:

Once all molecules in the electrolyte have been "used up", meaning there are no more molecules left to react with the positive electrode, the battery is depleted.

Some electrolytes can be rechared by an external source connected in the opposite direction so that it essentially "undoes" the reaction caused during discharge.

Batteries are not ideal - they have an internal resistance. Cells are connected in parallel to minimise this.

A primary cell is rechargable. A secondary cell is not.

$$\text{amp-hour} = \text{continuous current (amps)} * \text{discharge time (hrs)}$$ Therefore, an estimate of battery life can be made if the average current draw is known: $$\text{discharge time etc. (hrs)} = \frac{\text{amp-hour}}{\text{avg continuous current (amps)}}$$
Coulomb counters monitor the number of Coulombs (defined as $6.25 \times 10^{18}$ electrons) seen coming out of a battery (or in if recharging). They rarely give the value in Coulombs. 1 amp is 1 Coulomb per second past a point in a circuit - current is speed of charge flow around a circuit. In an hour there are 3600 seconds, so 1 amp-hour means 3600 coulombs. The counters will normally tell the total discharge seen so far in amp-hours or some similar unit.