Battery is of one or more electrochemical cells, which store chemical energy
and make it available in an electrical form. There are many types of electrochemical cells, including
galvanic cells, electrolytic cells, fuel cells, flow cells, and voltaic cells.
Formally, an electrical "battery" is an array of similar voltaic cells ("cells")
connected in series. However, in many contexts it is common to call a single cell a battery.
A battery's characteristics may vary due to many factors including internal chemistry,
current drain, and temperature. Generally, battery life can be prolonged by storing
the battery in a cool place and using it at an appropriate current.
Although an early form of battery may have been used in antiquity, the development
of modern batteries started with the Voltaic pile, invented by the Italian physicist
Alessandro Volta in 1800. Since then, batteries have gained popularity as they became
portable and useful for many purposes. Unfortunately, the widespread use of batteries has created many
environmental concerns, such as toxic metal pollution. Many reclamation
companies recycle batteries to reduce the number of batteries going into landfills.
Rechargeable batteries can be charged hundreds of times before wearing out;
and even after wearing out they can be recycled.
There are two types of batteries, primary (disposable) and secondary (rechargeable),
both of which convert chemical energy to electrical energy. Primary batteries can only be
used once because they use up their chemicals in an irreversible reaction.
Secondary batteries can be recharged because the chemical reactions they use are
reversible; they are recharged by running a charging current through the
battery, but in the opposite direction of the discharge current.
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