The alkaline battery was first developed by Waldemar Junger in 1899. Thomas Edison, working independently from Junger, developed his own alkaline battery in 1901. Here are the two reduction reactions involved in this battery:
Zn(OH) ₂(s) + 2e→Zn(s) + 2OH(aq)
2MnO₂(s) + 2H₂O(I) + 2e⁻→ 2MnO(OH) (s) +2OH (aq)
E°(red) = -1.28V
E°(red) = +0.15V
a. Write the overall reaction and calculate E°cell:
b. How much work can one alkaline battery do (in kJ/mol) under standard conditions at 25°C?
c. What is the equilibrium constant, Keq, for the alkaline battery reaction?
d. What would the voltage of the battery read (Ecell) when equilibrium has been achieved?
