Chapter 21 61

Chapter 21 Chemical Cells in Daily Life

A. Multiple Choice Questions 6. (a) Brand A:

8
1. B. Lithium ion cell 4 = HK$ 0.025 min1
2. A. Cadmium Making rechargeable cells 80
3. D. (2) and (3) only Brand B:
4. C. (1) and (3) only 14
5. B. D
6. D. An AAA size cell is smaller than an 8 = HK$ 0.0194 min1
AA size cell. 90
7. C. (1), (2) and (4) only Brand C:
8. B. (2) and (4) only 11
9. B. (1) and (4) only 4 = HK$ 0.0275 min1
100
B. Comprehensive Questions (b) Brand B
(c) Shape and size
1. Primary cells can be used once only.
Examples: Zinc-carbon cell / Alkaline - 7. (a) Zinc-carbon cell:
manganese cell / Silver oxide cell / 16
Lithium cell (Any one) 8 = HK$ 0.0125 min1
160
2. Secondary cell can be recharged and used Alkaline manganese cell:
again. Examples: Nickel-cadmium 18
rechargeable cell / Lithium ion cell /
Nickel metal hydride cell / Lead-acid 4 = HK$ 0.0150 min1
accumulator (Any one) 300
Zinc-carbon cells are more
3. In wet cells, the electrolytes are an economical to be used in the cassette
aqueous solution. player.
In dry cells, the electrolytes are a thick (b) Zinc-carbon cell:
paste. 16
8 = HK$ 0.025 min1
4. Solid form / Small in size (handy) / Light 80
in weight / Cheap / Durable / Easily Alkaline manganese cell:
available / Portable (Any three) 18
4 = HK$ 0.015 min1
5. Price / Shape / Size / Voltage / Current / 300
Charge capacity / Service life (Life Alkaline manganese cells are more
expectancy) / Shelf life / Rechargeability / economical to be used in the
Ease of leakage of electrolyte / motorized toy.
Performance at low temperature (Any (c) Voltage / Current / Charge capacity /
three) Ease of leakage of electrolyte (Any two)

Chapter 21 Solutions (EE).doc

62 Part 5
8. (a) Common use: Torches / Radios /
Cassette players / Calculators /
Motorized toys (Any one)
The appliance does not need a large
current and the cell is cheap.
(b) Common use: Cassette players /
Motorized toys (Any one)
The appliance is heavy with
continued use and a large current is
required.
(c) Common use: Watches / Calculators
/ Cameras / Cigarette lighters /
Hearing aids (Any one)
The appliance needs only a small
and constant current. Also, the size
is suitable for them.
(d) Common use: Motorized toys
It can provide a steady voltage
during discharge.
(e) Common use: Cassette players /
Motorized toys / Radios / Cordless
phones (Any one)
The appliance is heavy with
continued use and a large current is
required.
(f) Common use: Mobile phones
The appliance needs a large and
steady current. Moreover, it has
large charge capacity. It can be
recharged many times and be used
again.
(g) Common use: Cassette players /
Motorized toys / Radios / Mobile
phones (Any one)
The appliance needs a large and
steady current. Also, the appliance is
heavy with continued use.
(h) Common use: Motor vehicles
It can provide a large voltage and
current to start up the engine of a
car.
Chapter 21 Solutions (EE).doc
9. (a) Zinc-carbon cell / Alkaline
manganese cell (Any one)
Toy cars do not need a large current
and the cell is cheap. It is heavy
continued use and a large current is
required.
(b) Silver oxide cell
Hearing aids need only a small and
constant current. Also, the size is
suitable for it.
(c) Nickel cadmium cell
Electric shavers are heavy with
continued use and a large current is
required.
(d) Zinc-carbon cell / Alkaline
manganese cell / Nickel cadmium
cell / Nickel metal hydride cell (Any
one)
Clocks are heavy with continued use
and a large current is required.
(e) Silver oxide cell
Cameras need only a small and
constant current. Also, the size is
suitable for it.
10. HKCEE Question
C. Essay-type Questions
1. Arrange three light bulbs in parallel.
Connect the terminals of an AAA-sized
zinc-carbon cell to three light bulbs but do
not close the circuit.
Connect a voltmeter across the cells and
light bulbs.
Close the circuit and start the stopwatch at
the same time.
Record the voltage of cell during
discharge at 2 minute intervals for 20  25
minutes.
Repeat the experiment with an AAA-sized
alkaline manganese cell.
According to the results of zinc-carbon
cell and alkaline manganese cell, plot two
graphs with voltage against time on a
piece of graph paper.
 Chapter 21 63

2. Primary cells are non-rechargeable. Used

primary cells are useless and are usually
disposed of. In nature, the components of
these cells are difficult to disintegrate and
thus they pollute the environment.
In particular, the zinc metal used and its
compounds produced in zinc-carbon cells,
alkaline manganese cells and silver oxide
cells are toxic. The potassium hydroxide
contained in alkaline manganese cells and
silver oxide cells is a strong concentrated
alkali.
In addition, zinc metal usually contains a
small amount of mercury (Hg). If the
mercury is released from the zinc metal, it
causes a serious pollution problem. This is
because mercury metal and its compounds
are highly toxic.
Although secondary cells are rechargeable,
they still contain chemicals which are
harmful to the environment and mankind.
Once their service lives expire, they are
usually disposed of. They also cause
pollution problems. For example, the
cadmium metal and its compound
contained in nickel-cadmium cells are
highly toxic. Lead and its compounds in
lead-acid accumulators are also poisonous.
For conservation of the environment, there
are zinc-carbon cells and alkaline
manganese cells which have little or no
mercury in the market. These chemical
cells are called “green cells”.

Chapter 21 Solutions (EE).doc