What is the difference between a commercial Ni-Cd battery and a galvanic cell system of Ni-Cd with nickel chloride concentration of 0.05M and cadmium nitrate concentration od 0.01M
To understand the difference between a commercial Ni-Cd battery and a galvanic cell system using nickel chloride and cadmium nitrate, let's break it down step by step:
1. Commercial Ni-Cd Battery:
A commercial Ni-Cd (Nickel-Cadmium) battery is a rechargeable battery commonly used in various electronic devices and applications. It consists of two electrodes: a nickel electrode (positive) and a cadmium electrode (negative), which are separated by a porous membrane. The electrolyte used in the battery typically contains potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution. During the charging process, nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) forms on the nickel electrode, and cadmium hydroxide (Cd(OH)2) forms on the cadmium electrode. During discharge, these compounds are converted back to their original forms, releasing electrical energy.
2. Galvanic Cell using Ni-Cd with Nickel Chloride and Cadmium Nitrate Solution:
A galvanic cell is an electrochemical cell that converts chemical energy to electrical energy spontaneously. In this case, the nickel chloride (NiCl2) and cadmium nitrate (Cd(NO3)2) are used as the electrolyte solutions. The concentration of the solutions is given as 0.05M for nickel chloride and 0.01M for cadmium nitrate.
In the galvanic cell, one half-cell contains a nickel electrode immersed in the nickel chloride solution, while the other half-cell contains a cadmium electrode immersed in the cadmium nitrate solution. The two half-cells are connected through a salt bridge. During the cell reaction, nickel ions (Ni2+) from the nickel chloride solution get reduced at the nickel electrode and plate onto the electrode in the form of metallic nickel. At the same time, cadmium metal from the cadmium electrode gets oxidized to cadmium ions (Cd2+) in the cadmium nitrate solution.
Overall, the main difference between a commercial Ni-Cd battery and the galvanic cell system using nickel chloride and cadmium nitrate is the specific setup and the composition of the electrolyte. Commercial Ni-Cd batteries generally use potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte, while the galvanic cell shown here uses nickel chloride and cadmium nitrate solutions. Additionally, the concentrations of these solutions may vary depending on the specific setup and requirements of the cell.