Grove cell

Grove, the element is a historical galvanic cell consisting of a zinc half-cell and a platinum and is one of the rarely used wet batteries. The galvanic element is named after its inventor, William Grove, who developed it in 1844.

Construction

Grove, the element consists of a central rod of platinum, which is the positive electrode in the form of the cathode and is marked in the figure (P), and this is immersed in a solution of dilute nitric acid. In the original design, the diluted nitric acid is charged into a container ( T ) of porous earthenware, which in turn is submerged in the outer region in a solution of sulfuric acid. Outside there is the negative electrode as the anode of a bent metal plate of zinc, highlighted in the display with (Z ), which is immersed in the field of sulfuric acid. The entire assembly is in a support vessel. The platinum rod and the zinc plate is provided through appropriate terminals for the electrical connection. The diaphragm, also referred to as a salt conductor serves to prevent the diffusion mixing of the two acids and still allow a charge balance by anions by the porous material.

The cell voltage is in the Grove element 1.9 V, resulting in the similarly constructed Daniell cell at 1.1 V is almost a doubling. Due to this higher voltage, the Grove - element was used from 1844 to 1860 mainly in North America in the first Telegrafieverbindungen as a source of electrical energy. The disadvantage of the Grove element is the formation of toxic nitrogen dioxide in the discharge, and the comparatively expensive platinum presented in the practical application of a disadvantage dar. Therefore, the Grove element as a source of electrical energy in telegraphy from the 1860s through gravity Daniell was elements replaced.

Reaction equation

The redox reaction during discharge is: