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Explain why you put batteries in the refrigerator that you are not using in order to preserve them longer.

Explain why you put batteries in the refrigerator that you are not using in order-example-1
User Jossefaz
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17 votes

The question requires us to explain why put batteries in the refrigerator in order to make them last longer.

Considering usual alkaline batteries, we could summarize the way they function as: there is a manganese dioxide (MnO2) cathode and a zinc (Zn) anode, and also an electrolyte solution (the battery "juice"). The electricity is produced when the MnO2 cathode is reduced and metallic zinc is oxidized:


Zn+2MnO_2+H_2O\to ZnO+2MnOOH

When this reaction occurs, electrons flow from one terminal to another - this is a crucial part of the process. On the other hand, when the temperature of the overall the system is reduced, such as keeping the battery in the refrigerator, the movement of electrons tend to decrease and the rate of the reaction also decreases. In this sense, batteries could be stored in the refrigerator in an attempt to slow down the chemical reactions that occur inside the battery.

Considering the collision theory, which states that a chemical reaction occurs when particles of reactants collide, reducing the flow of electrons in the battery would slow down the flow of particles necessary to make the reaction happen, thus reducing the r

User Shemsu
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