NCERT · Class 12 · Chemistry · ElectrochemistryWhat is a primary battery? Give an example.

A primary battery is a non-rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell in which the underlying chemical redox reactions occur only once and proceed exclusively in the forward direction until all the active chemical reactants are completely consumed. Once the chemical energy is fully exhausted through prolonged use, the primary battery cannot be electrically recharged by passing an inverse current and must be safely discarded. A classic and universally familiar example of a primary battery is the ordinary dry cell or Leclanche cell widely used in clocks and portable flashlights.