Talk:Depolarizer

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I have created this page because I have noticed that most of the Wikipedia articles on primary cells make no mention of the depolarizer. Is this omission simply an error or has there been a change in scientific opinion over the past 50 years about the way in which primary cells work? Biscuittin 10:10, 3 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Indeed, there has been a change in the scientific opinion. Although the term "depolarizer" is still used today, a part of the concept behind this thing is outdated, and many modern electrochemists prefer to replace it, e.g. by oxidizing agent. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.42.96.251 (talk) 21:48, 7 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

But more content should be added here. Anshh999 (talk) 16:24, 11 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Polarisation mechanism[edit]

The article focusses on the buildup of hydrogen bubbles on one electrode. I thought that one important polarisation mechanism was the depletion of oxygen. For example a zinc plate and a carbon plate will produce a voltage when immersed into an ammonium chloride electorolyte, but the voltage will rapidly drop if loaded due to "polarisation". The voltage drop can be reduced by adding e.g. manganese dioxide (mixed with carbon) as a "depolarizer". Back in history it was not understood that carbon was an inert electrode serving only as a conductor without taking part in the reaction. The battery was a zinc-oxygen battery with very little dissolved oxygen available. By adding this depolarizer it became a zinc-manganese dioxide battery with much better capacity. Coatings of oxides or other compounds lowering the current capacities of electrodes could probably also be classified as "polarisations".150.227.15.253 (talk) 15:20, 16 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]