ITPEC FE Morning October 2020 Question 21

Lithium-ion battery — a secondary battery is one that can be recharged and used again, and lithium-ion is the only rechargeable cell among the options.

A primary battery produces electricity from a chemical reaction that cannot be reversed, so it is thrown away when spent. A secondary battery (storage battery) runs its reaction backwards when a charging current is applied, so it can be cycled many times. Lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride and lead-acid batteries are secondary batteries; lithium-ion powers smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles.

Answer (c)

Why not others:

• •(a) Alkaline–manganese dry cell — a primary battery, the disposable AA and AAA cell
• •(b) Fuel cell — generates electricity continuously from fuel such as hydrogen and oxygen supplied from outside; it is refuelled, not recharged, and stores no charge itself
• •(d) Silver-oxide battery — a primary button cell used in watches and small devices

Key rule: Primary means single use and secondary means rechargeable; a fuel cell is neither, because it converts a continuous fuel supply rather than storing charge.

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