Editing Electrochemical cell (section)

=== Primary cell ===
[[File:Batteries comparison 4,5 D C AA AAA AAAA A23 9V CR2032 LR44 matchstick-1.jpeg|thumb|A variety of standard sizes of primary cells.  From left: 4.5V multicell battery, D, C, AA, AAA, AAAA, A23, 9V multicell battery, LR44 ''(top)'', CR2032 ''(bottom)''.]]
{{main|Primary cell}}

A primary cell produces current by irreversible chemical reactions (ex. small disposable batteries) and is not rechargeable.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

They are used for their portability, low cost, and short lifetime.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Primary cells are made in a range of standard sizes to power small household appliances such as [[flashlight]]s and portable radios.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

As chemical reactions proceed in a primary cell, the battery uses up the chemicals that generate the power; when they are gone, the battery stops producing electricity.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
[[File:Diagram of a primary cell (battery).jpg|thumb|Circuit diagram of a primary cell showing difference in cell potential, and flow of electrons through a resistor.]]

Primary batteries make up about 90% of the $50 billion battery market, but secondary batteries have been gaining market share.  About 15 billion primary batteries are thrown away worldwide every year,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Communications |first=Cactus |title=What if we could recycle the energy remaining in discarded batteries? Scientists now know how |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2022-08-recycle-energy-discarded-batteries-scientists.html |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=techxplore.com |language=en}}</ref> virtually all ending up in landfills.  Due to the toxic [[Heavy metal (chemistry)|heavy metals]] and strong acids or alkalis they contain, batteries are [[hazardous waste]].  Most municipalities classify them as such and require separate disposal. The energy needed to manufacture a battery is about 50 times greater than the energy it contains.<ref name="Hill2">{{cite book |last=Hill |first=Marquita K. |url=https://archive.org/details/understandingenv0000hill |title=Understanding Environmental Pollution: A Primer |date=2004 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-521-82024-0 |page=274 |quote=Manufacturing a disposable battery takes about 50 times more energy than the battery provides when used. |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name="Watts2">{{cite book |last=Watts |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KFTvvwOOi64C&q=battery+energy+%2250+times%22&pg=PA63 |title=Gcse Edexcel Science |date=2006 |publisher=[[Letts and Lonsdale]] |isbn=978-1-905129-63-8 |pages=63}}</ref><ref name="Wastebusters2">{{cite book |last=Wastebusters Ltd. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LcX9AQAAQBAJ&q=battery+energy+%2250+times%22&pg=PA96 |title=The Green Office Manual: A Guide to Responsible Practice |date=2013 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-134-19798-9 |pages=96}}</ref><ref name="Danaher2">{{cite book |last1=Danaher |first1=Kevin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JQdZCwAAQBAJ&q=battery+energy+%2250+times%22&pg=PA199 |title=Building the Green Economy: Success Stories from the Grassroots |last2=Biggs |first2=Shannon |last3=Mark |first3=Jason |date=2016 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-317-26292-3 |pages=199 |author1-link=Kevin Danaher (activist)}}</ref> Due to their high pollutant content compared to their small energy content, the primary battery is considered a wasteful, environmentally unfriendly technology.  Mainly due to the increasing sales of [[wireless device]]s and [[Cordless|cordless tools]], which cannot be economically powered by primary batteries and come with integral rechargeable batteries, the secondary battery industry has high growth and has slowly been replacing the primary battery in high end products.