Batteries Components that store energy and supply it to electrons to be carried round a circuit This is a cell. What most people think of as a battery is actually a single cell where chemical energy is stored ready to be converted into electrical energy This is a battery. Where 2 or more cells are combined to increase the voltage or current of the supply. Batteries (and cells) are POLARISED which means current only flows through them in one direction (positive to negative) Therefore you need to know how to identify Positive and negative on the symbol and physical cells. Positive + Negative - ALL Batteries are toxic and MUST be disposed of properly. This Icon means … DO NOT BIN Instead batteries must be re-cycled or taken to specialist disposal facilities. The “Battery Directive” states that batteries must not contain Mercury or Cadmium. Because these are TOXIC (harmful to the environment.) That means… That the Nickel Cadmium rechargeable batteries shown above are being PHASED OUT   Instead, nearly all rechargeable batteries are Either: ·Nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH) which is less harmful and last longer Or ·Lihium-Ion (Li-Ion) which last LOTS longer but is MUCH more expensive.

Problems Batteries & the environment What Can be done? Throwing away batteries is a waste of energy that could be recovered in terms of materials and chemicals If put in a normal bin, batteries end up on landfill where the casings rust and poisonous gases pollute the environment and acids pollute the groundwater Problems Batteries contain TOXIC chemicals and Acids which can pollute the environment Batteries & the environment What Can be done? Reduce Recycle Choosing products that don’t require batteries Using mains power when possible Putting batteries in dedicated battery bins Chemicals can be processed professionally and safely Re-use Using rechargeable batteries instead of disposable