1. LEAD-ACID AND LITHIUM BATTERIES KEVIN, SAM, JACK

2. Lead-AcidLithium AnodeLead DioxideLithium CathodeLead MetalManganese Dioxide ElectrolyteSulfuric acid solutionLithium perchlorate in propylene carbonate and dimethoxyethane LiClO 4 in C 4 H 6 O 3 and C 4 H 10 O 2 Energy density (Wh/kg) 41 Wh/Kg280 Wh/kg Cost and practicality Relatively cheap compared to other engery sources, however the weight of the sulfuric acid (electrolytle) and lead electrodes limit their use in many applications. The materials are inexpensive. Suitable for low-drain, long-life, low-cost applications. E.g. portable devices like watches, pacemakers, laptops and smartphones.

3. Impact on society The introduction of lead acid batteries revolutionalised the automobile industry, The use of lead batteries enabled the ability to power the starter motor without the need to prviously crank it. The lead acid battery is responsible for the powering of many car associated appliances such as headlights, radio, windshield wipers, indicators and and CD players. Lithium batteries have a high energy density per mass and volume. With features of being small and lightweight, it has been very useful in a variety of portable applications needing a long lasting power supply. Lithium batteries are also easily rechargeable and this attributes to the efficiency of many portable devices. Environmental impact The use of lead has it's disadvantages, eventually the lead acid battery runs flat to the point it cannot recharge itself, an environmental impact comes from it's disposal. Although most lead batteries are recycled and the electrodes and acid are retained, some car batteries are still being left at waste dumps instead of being properly disposed. This leave a negative contamination of the area as lead is a heavy metal as well as a cumulative poison Lithium batteries can be very unstable because they provide high currents and can discharge quickly when short circuited. "Lithium Ion batteries are classified by the federal government as non-hazardous waste and are safe for disposal in the normal municipal waste stream," says Kate Krebs at the National Recycling Coalition. However, simply landfilling billions of lithium batteries each year is wasteful. The reason why these batteries are not recycled is because the cost of recycling outweighs the price of the scrap material.