Chapter 14, Problem 42E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason behind the idea “plastic can be used in the place of zinc to reduce the cost of flashlight batteries,” being wrong is to be explained.

Concept introduction:

A zinc–carbon dry cell or battery, used in our daily life, is packaged in a zinc can that serves as a container as well as a negative terminal (anode). The positive terminal of dry cell is a carbon rod, which is surrounded by a mixture of manganese dioxide and carbon powder.

The chemical reaction in which oxidation process and reduction process take place, simultaneously, is called a redox reaction.

A Leclanche dry cell or flashlight battery is called ‘dry’ because there is no liquid present.