Question

Now Rancho got more curious and he wanted to check other batteries as well. So he tried his motorcycle battery this time. Again he made some observations. Which of the following are TRUE?

• A. It consists of a lead anode
• B. A grid of lead packed with lead dioxide $\left(Pb{O}_2\right)$ acts as cathode
• C. It is non-rechargeable
• D. A $38\%$ solution of sulphuric acid is used as an electrolyte

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (D)

The correct options are
A It consists of a lead anode
B A grid of lead packed with lead dioxide $\left(Pb{O}_2\right)$ acts as cathode
D A $38\%$ solution of sulphuric acid is used as an electrolyte

Lead storage batteries are used commonly in automobiles.
No wonder Rancho found a different kind of setup altogether.
It was a 12.V lead storage battery.
This is one of the most common batteries used in the automobiles. A 12-V lead storage battery generally consists of six cells each producing 2V. Each cell consists of a lead anode (or a grid of lead filled with finely divided spongy lead as the anode) and a grid of lead packed with lead dioxide as the cathode. These electrodes are arranged alternately, separated by thin wooden or fibre glass sheets and suspended in dilute sulphuric acid ($38\%$ by mass or having density of 1.30 g $c{m}^{-3}$) which acts as the electrolyte.
To increase the current output of each cell, the cathode plates are joined together and the anode plates are also joined together (keeping them in the alternate positions of course), i.e., the cells are connected in parallel (anode to anode and cathode to cathode). To have an output voltage of 12 V, six cells are connected in series.