Final answer:
A high percentage of car batteries are recycled due to the environmental and economic benefits, combined with the ability to recover materials and reuse them in new batteries.
Step-by-step explanation:
We have a high percentage of car batteries recycled due to the economic and environmental benefits offered by the recycling process. Car batteries, particularly lead-acid batteries, consist of valuable materials like lead and sulfuric acid, which can be recovered and reused, significantly reducing the need for raw material extraction and processing. The recycling of batteries also prevents the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment.
The reason car batteries can be used and then recharged relates to the chemical potential and redox reactions occurring within them. When a battery is discharged, the chemical reactants inside are used up, lowering the battery's potential to provide power. Recharging a battery reverses the chemical reaction, restoring its potential. In the case of electric and hybrid vehicles, the motor can act like a generator during braking, which recharges the battery and prolongs its life.