--- title: A Field Guide to the Chemicals In Your Car Battery description: Car batteries are a complex piece of automotive chemistry. Here we'll take a look at the chemical reactions that comprise different kinds of car batteries. image: https://info.noahtech.com/hubfs/Car%20Battery%20Chemicals%20Guide.jpg --- [(210) 691-2000](tel:+1-210-691-2000) [![Logo2](https://info.noahtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo2.png?width=300&height=124&name=Logo2.png "Logo2")](http://noahchemicals.com) - [Home](https://noahtech.com/) - [Products](https://noahtech.com/products) - [About Us](https://noahtech.com/about-us) - [Contact](https://noahtech.com/contact) - [Home](https://noahtech.com) - [Product Search](https://noahtech.com/products) - [Our Products](https://noahtech.com/our-products) - [About Us](https://noahtech.com/about-us) - [Mission Statement](https://noahtech.com/about-us/mission-statement-and-quality-policy) - [News & Blog](https://noahtech.com/blog) - [Resources](https://noahtech.com/about-us/resources) - [Newsletter](https://info.noahtech.com/newsletter) - [Custom Manufacturing](https://noahtech.com/about-us/custom-manufacturing) - [FAQs](https://noahtech.com/about-us/faqs) - [Customer Support](https://info.noahtech.com/customer-support) - [Contact](https://noahtech.com/contact) - [Special Request Form](https://noahtech.com/about-us/mission-statement-and-quality-policy) - [Request a Quote](https://info.noahtech.com/request-a-quote) - [Customer Support](https://info.noahtech.com/customer-support?_ga=2.105203267.1728866925.1585494791-2131920613.1585264299) - [OpenCart Footer](https://noahtech.com/oc-footer) - [Quality Assurance](https://noahtech.com/quality-assurance) - [Credit Application](https://noahtech.com/credit-application) - [Thank you](https://noahtech.com/credit-application/thank-you) - [Privacy](https://noahtech.com/privac) - [Sitemap](https://noahtech.com/sitemap) - [Request a Quote](https://noahtech.com/request-a-quote) - [Landing page](https://noahtech.com/landing-page) - [Industries](https://noahtech.com/industries-1) [Request a Quote](https://noahchemicals.com/request-a-quote/) [Request a Quote](https://info.noahtech.com/request-a-quote?_ga=2.40772194.1728866925.1585494791-2131920613.1585264299) ![banner](https://info.noahtech.com/hubfs/NoahTech_April2020/img/banner.jpg) # A Field Guide to the Chemicals In Your Car Battery Diane Milner Jul 20, 2020 8:00:00 AM ![Car Battery Chemicals Guide.jpg](https://info.noahtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Car%20Battery%20Chemicals%20Guide.jpg?width=750&height=501&name=Car%20Battery%20Chemicals%20Guide.jpg) Car batteries use chemical reactions to produce electric currents. The typical car battery is far more complex than you might think, consisting of several different chemical compounds and electrical circuits. Which chemicals are responsible for converting their energy into the electrical charges that actually make a car run? **Traditional Lead-Acid Batteries** Gas-powered automobiles are most commonly outfitted with what are known as “lead-acid” batteries. These batteries are cost-efficient and have a relatively high power-to-weight ratio which makes them perfect for commercially produced vehicles. Lead-acid batteries consist of (at least) two **lead** plates separated by a chemical solution generally made of 30-50% **sulfuric acid**, a.k.a. “battery acid.” When fully charged, the battery’s negative plate is solidly lead, the electrolyte is concentrated sulfuric acid, and the positive plate consists of **lead dioxide**. When the battery is discharged, electrons move through the solution from the negatively charged plate to the positively-charged plate. If the battery has become fully discharged (“dead”) then both plates will have become **lead sulfate**, separated by a solution of **water**. **Electric Vehicle Batteries** Electric vehicle batteries are far more varied than those used in traditional fuel-powered vehicles. Although some EVs are still made to run on lead-acid batteries, process improvement in the production of alternatives are making them a more viable alternative. Lithium-ion batteries are perhaps the most promising. These batteries consist of a **lithium cobalt oxide** cathode paired with a **graphite** anode. The addition of chemical substances such as **phosphates** and **titanates** has been shown to lengthen the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries; likewise, chemicals like **lithium vanadium oxide** and **silicon** are continually being tested for their use in improving energy density. Zebra batteries are relatively new to market and use a **chloroaluminate sodium** as their electrolyte. While they do boast high energy density, they have a relatively low power density and must be heated in order to charge. Nickel-Metal hydride batteries are a mature technology. They have a very high energy density. The metal portion of the electrode can be made up of many substances, from **neodymium** to **lanthanum** to **cerium**. Other commonly-used metals include **nickel** (hence the name), **cobalt**, **aluminum**, and **manganese**. The electrolyte used in these kind of batteries is alkaline, typically **potassium hydroxide**.   Battery chemistry is fascinating, and its study has a huge and consequential impact on our world. Noah Chemicals [supplies chemicals](https://www.noahchemicals.com/automotive-industry) to battery manufacturers and researchers around the country; when purity is important, Noah Chemicals on-staff chemists are always ready to help. **Want to know more?** [**Reach out to our team here.**](https://www.noahchemicals.com/contact-us) [Automotive Chemistry](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/topic/automotive-chemistry) ## Read On ### [A Field Guide to the Chemicals In Your Car Battery Car batteries use chemical reactions to produce electric currents. The typical car battery is far...](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/car-battery-chemicals-guide) ### [Receiving electricity from chemical interactions of substances](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/receiving-electricity-from-chemical-interactions-of-substances) ### [The Advances in Battery Composition Although the term “battery” was not used until Benjamin Franklin’s experiments in 1749, what are...](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/the-advances-in-battery-composition) ![](https://info.noahtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/May%202021%20-%20new%20images/tri-icon.png?width=100&name=tri-icon.png) ### QUALITY MATTERS Noah Technologies Corporation is committed to continually improving all of our processes and services. We do this in order to provide quality inorganic and specialty chemicals to our customers so that we exceed their requirements. 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