Battery

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In a lead storage battery during discharge, the reaction at anode is:

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Pb → Pb²⁺ + 2e⁻

Pb + SO₄²⁻ → PbSO₄ + 2e⁻

PbO₂ + 4H⁺ + 2e⁻ → Pb²⁺ + 2H₂O

PbO₂ + SO₄²⁻ + 4H⁺ + 2e⁻ → PbSO₄ + 2H₂O

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About This Question

Subject: chemistry
Chapter: redox reactions and electrochemistry
Topic: battery
Difficulty: Medium
Year: 2025

Solution

Correct Answer:

Pb + SO₄²⁻ → PbSO₄ + 2e⁻

In a Lead Storage Battery, the anode consists of lead ( $P b$ ) and the electrolyte is $38% H_{2} S O_{4}$ .

During Discharge (acting as a galvanic cell):

At Anode (Oxidation): Lead is oxidized. However, because $S O_{4}^{2 -}$ ions are present, the $P b^{2 +}$ ions immediately precipitate as insoluble lead sulfate. $P b (s) + S O_{4}^{2 -} (a q) \to P b S O_{4} (s) + 2 e^{-}$
At Cathode (Reduction): $P b O_{2}$ is reduced. $P b O_{2} + S O_{4}^{2 -} + 4 H^{+} + 2 e^{-} \to P b S O_{4} + 2 H_{2} O$

Note that both reactions consume sulfuric acid and produce $P b S O_{4}$ .

This medium difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter redox reactions and electrochemistry, covering the topic of battery. It appeared in the 2025 exam.

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More battery Practice Questions

During discharge of a lead storage battery, both electrodes are converted to:

In a lead storage battery during discharge, the electrolyte density:

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