Consider the following statements about secondary batteries.
(A) The lead storage battery is commonly used in automobiles and invertors.
(B) The nickel-cadmium cell has a longer life than the lead storage cell and is cheaper to manufacture.
(C) On charging the lead storage battery, the PbSO4 formed during discharge on the anode is converted into Pb and that on the cathode into PbO2.
(D) A 38% solution of sulphuric acid is used as the electrolyte in the lead storage battery.
Which of the statements given above are correct? Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A), (C) and (D) only
A secondary cell can be recharged after use by passing current through it in the opposite direction, so it can be used again for many discharging and charging cycles.
(A) The lead storage battery is commonly used in automobiles and invertors. — True. It is the most important secondary cell and is used in automobiles and invertors.
(B) The nickel-cadmium cell has a longer life than the lead storage cell and is cheaper to manufacture. — False. The nickel-cadmium cell does have a longer life than the lead storage cell, but it is more expensive to manufacture, not cheaper.
(C) On charging the lead storage battery, the PbSO4 formed during discharge on the anode is converted into Pb and that on the cathode into PbO2. — True. Charging reverses the reaction of discharge, so the lead anode and the lead dioxide cathode are formed again.
(D) A 38% solution of sulphuric acid is used as the electrolyte in the lead storage battery. — True. The electrolyte is a 38% solution of H2SO4; the anode is lead and the cathode is a grid of lead packed with PbO2.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
2.6.2 Secondary Batteries – “…The most important secondary cell is the lead storage battery … commonly used in automobiles and invertors. It consists of a lead anode and a grid of lead packed with lead dioxide (PbO2) as cathode. A 38% solution of sulphuric acid is used as an electrolyte.”
“On charging the battery the reaction is reversed and PbSO4(s) on anode and cathode is converted into Pb and PbO2, respectively.”
“Another important secondary cell is the nickel-cadmium cell … which has longer life than the lead storage cell but more expensive to manufacture.”