Redox: The Chemistry of Batteries

Question

 What chemical reactions occur in batteries?

Investigate (Knowledge)

 Review background information on electrochemical cells

Model (Application)

 Balance redox equations.

 Determine the composition of different batteries, by exploring manufacturers' websites.

Evaluate (Evaluation)

 Write a balanced redox equation for the process that occurs in each battery.
 Calculate the voltage produced by each type of battery.
 Relate redox reactions of batteries to redox reactions in photosynthesis.

Estimated Time to Complete

 90-150 minutes

Grade/Subject level

 This lesson is designed for 11th or 12th grade advanced chemistry students. Students should
have prior knowledge of chemical names, formulas, balancing double displacement reactions,
and oxidation numbers.

Extension

 After students complete this lesson, they can explore the role of redox in natural processes, and
additional commercial applications, such as bleaching processes, the production of blueprints,
and the development of breathalyzer technologies.

Objectives

1. Define electrochemistry.
2. Define the components of an electrochemical cell – anode, cathode, salt bridge, an oxidizing
agent, a reducing agent.
3. Define cell potential voltage and describe the unit of cell potential.
4. Demonstrate the combination of half reactions to form the cell reaction.
5. Discuss the composition and operation of commonly used batteries – lead storage, dry cell, and
fuel cell.
Evaluation

Investigate
 Student responses will be checked for accuracy on questions 1-7. Students must show a solid
foundation in the basic parts of a redox reaction, an electrochemical cell (battery), oxidation
numbers, and half reactions.
Model
 Student responses will be checked for correctly balanced reactions, labeled components, and a
total number of electrons transferred.
Evaluate
 Student responses will be checked for the correct identification and balancing of the oxidation
and reduction half-reactions, a correct number of electrons transferred, and the correct voltage
value was calculated.

Grading Checklist

Investigate
Redox: Background Information
 Student provides a clear and complete explanation of oxidation.
 Student provides a clear and complete explanation of oxidation.
 Student accurately describes an anode.
 Student accurately describes a cathode.
 Student provides all necessary steps needed to calculate the voltage of an
electrochemical cell.
 Student correctly lists all rules for determining oxidation numbers.
 Student clearly explains half-reactions.
*Students must meet all the above criteria before moving to the next step.
Model
Balancing a Redox Reaction
 Student identifies which element is being oxidized, which element is being reduced, the
oxidizing agent, and the reducing agent.
 Student is able to correctly determine the total number of electrons that are transferred
in the reaction.
Battery Composition
 Student identifies the anode, cathode, and electrolyte solution in each of the 4 types of
batteries.
*Students must meet all the above criteria before moving to the next step.
Evaluate
Battery Analysis
For each type of battery:
 Student determines the oxidation half-reaction.
 Student determines the reduction half-reaction.
 Student determines the total number of electrons transferred in the reaction.
 Student is able to calculate the cell voltage.
Redox Quiz
 Student correctly identifies each component of the reaction as a cathode, anode,
oxidized, reduced, an oxidizing agent, and a reducing agent.
 Student deduces that CO2 is reduced to C6H12O11 and H2O is oxidized to O2.
 Student further explains that a plant cell converts carbon dioxide to sugar as a way of
harvesting chemical energy.
 Student shows a correlation of chemical energy in a plant cell to chemical energy inside
of a battery.