Definition

Noun: - A device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy: A voltaic battery is a collection of one or more voltaic cells connected together to provide a source of direct electric current. Each cell generates electricity through a spontaneous redox (reduction-oxidation) chemical reaction.

Usage

A "voltaic battery" is a technical term. It is used to describe a specific type of electrochemical power source, often in historical, scientific, or engineering contexts. - The early telegraph systems relied on a voltaic battery for power. - In the laboratory, we constructed a simple voltaic battery using zinc and copper electrodes.

Advanced Usage

• The term "voltaic battery" is named after Alessandro Volta, who invented the first true battery (the Voltaic Pile) in 1800. It is often used to distinguish early or fundamental electrochemical batteries from modern dry-cell or lithium-ion batteries.
• "Primary voltaic battery": A battery that is not rechargeable; the chemical reaction is irreversible.
  • The flashlight uses a primary voltaic battery that must be replaced when depleted.

Variants and Related Words

• Voltaic cell (n): A single electrochemical unit that forms the basic building block of a voltaic battery. A battery contains one or more cells.
  • A simple voltaic cell can be made with a lemon, a zinc nail, and a copper penny.
• Galvanic battery (n): A synonym for "voltaic battery," also named after Luigi Galvani. The terms are often used interchangeably.
• Battery (n): The general term for a device consisting of one or more electrochemical cells. "Voltaic battery" is a specific type of battery.

Synonyms

• Galvanic battery: An identical synonym in scientific contexts.
• Electrochemical battery: A broader, more modern synonym that encompasses voltaic batteries.
• Primary battery: A synonym when referring to non-rechargeable voltaic batteries.

Related Phrases

• In series/parallel: Key phrases describing how the individual cells within a voltaic battery are connected.
  • Connecting cells in series increases the voltage of the voltaic battery.
  • Connecting cells in parallel increases the current capacity of the voltaic battery.

Noun

1. battery consisting of a number of voltaic cells arranged in series or parallel