Difference Between Dry Cell and Wet Cell

The key difference between dry cell and wet cell is that in dry cells, either a porous container or mixing with a gel medium restrains the flow of electrolyte whereas wet cells have a fluid and the fluid is free to move.

A device that can produce an electromotive force, and subsequently a current as a result of a chemical reaction is known as a cell. A collection of cells is called a battery. Cells and batteries are divided into two main categories as primary and secondary cells (batteries). Primary cell (battery) is a cell (battery) that we can restore to produce electromotive force after spending all the chemicals. Primary batteries are single-use and disposable. A secondary battery is a battery that we can revive and use multiple times. Ex: the battery used on the mobile phone.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Dry Cell
3. What is Wet Cell
4. Side by Side Comparison – Dry Cell vs Wet Cell in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Dry Cell?

A primary or secondary cell in which the electrolyte does not flow in any way is a dry cell. Zinc-carbon battery (or the ordinary torch battery) is a dry cell, in which the electrolyte is ammonium chloride paste and the container is the negative zinc electrode. It is a development from the Leclanche cell, where the ammonium chloride electrolyte converts into a gel, to avoid fluid motion, but still supports the movement of charges to allow the current flow.

Dry cells are the most common types of batteries at present. The absence of fluid inside makes them light, portable, smaller and compatible, with a vast number of applications. We can design a number of alkaline secondary cells to use as dry cells. In these, the electrolyte (sodium or potassium hydroxide) is a liquid which exists inside a porous material or a gel. Alkaline dry cells typically have zinc-manganese dioxide, nickel cadmium, or nickel-iron electrode system.

For specialized purposes, we can produce dry cells and batteries with solid electrolytes. These may contain a solid crystalline salt such as silver iodide and ion exchange membrane or an organic wax with a small amount of dissolved ionic material. Such cells deliver low currents, and they are useful in miniature cells for use in electronic equipment.

What is Wet Cell?

A cell with a liquid electrolyte is a wet cell. The first type of cells developed by scientists was wet cells with a relatively simple design.

We can produce these cells with the common household material. For example, you can light a small bulb using a copper rod and a zinc rod dipped in lime, which is also a wet cell where the sap/juice of the lime acts as the electrolyte.

Leclanche cell, Daniel cell, Grove cell, Bunsen cell, Chromic acid cell, Clark cell, and Weston (Cadmium) cell are examples of wet cells. Batteries present in automobiles are wet cells. Technically, we call it lead-acid accumulator because it has lead electrodes with sulphuric acid as the electrolyte.

What is the Difference Between Dry Cell and Wet Cell?

A dry cell is a primary or secondary cell in which the electrolyte does not flow in any way. A wet cell is a cell with a liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte in dry cells is either a porous container or mixing with a gel medium restrains the flow of electrolyte. However, the electrolyte in wet cells is a fluid that moves freely.

A dry cell is usually lighter and compact unlike a wet cell, which is heavier and bulky. Therefore, dry cells are less risky whereas wet cells are riskier because of the potentially harmful fluid that may spill. Furthermore, with regard to the cost of these two cells, dry cells are expensive to manufacture while wet cells are cheaper to manufacture

Summary – Dry Cell vs Wet Cell

Both wet cells and dry cells are available as primary and secondary cells (batteries). A cell is a device that can produce an electromotive force as a result of a chemical reaction. The difference between dry cell and wet cell is that, in dry cells, either a porous container or mixing with a gel medium restrains the flow of electrolyte whereas wet cells have a fluid and the fluid is free to move.

Reference:

1. “What Is a Wet Cell Battery?” UPS Battery Center, UPS Battery Center, 19 Dec. 2016. Available here  
2. “Content.” Call2Recycle®. Available here