Lead-Acid Batteries for Dummies

Jumper cable safe attachment

If there's anything that chaps the collective hiney of the Antisocial Network staffers more than freelancers with liberal arts degrees fumbling through technical and scientific discussions, it's people who (at least claim to) have science degrees and then botch scientific discussions. That being said, of course someone with a BS in Botany probably lacks the background to discuss quantum entanglement, while a theoretical physicist probably can't give chapter and verse on the uptake of nutrients in vascular plants. Both, however, should know basic science... unlike eHowian Stephanie Chandler, who forgot some simple chemistry in "What Are the Dangers of Exposure to Lead Acid Battery Gas?"¹ at ItStillRuns.com.

Chandler, who claimed a "master's degree in biomedical science," opened with her padding (needed to reach that all-holy minimum word count): that's where she burned off 69 words on the history of lead-acid batteries and another 64 on how a battery works. That's all without a single word about gases, exposure, or danger...

Stephanie then moved on to another 62 words about sulfuric acid and its dangers, concluding with the bogus claim that

"...[a] lead acid battery is the only consumer product that contains this potentially dangerous chemical."

We guess Chandler had never used acidic drain cleaners like Thermochem... Anyway, Stephanie finally got to the "battery gases" at around word 288: talk about burying the lede! This is where Chandler allowed that

"Overcharging a battery generates both oxygen and hydrogen gases. The battery is designed to vent excess gases or contain them so they can recombine to form water. However, if excess gas accumulates, it can be dangerous. This combination of gas is highly explosive. If the excess gas is ignited, the resulting explosion is sufficient to burst the outer casing of the battery, injuring any person nearby with the spray of fluid and pieces of shrapnel."

We've known people who've had batteries explode before; we can't emphasize enough the techniques for safe charging and, especially, jumping batteries. On the other hand, Chandler blew even this little snippet of "answer" completely. For one, it's not the "combination of gas [that] is highly explosive," it's the hydrogen – think Hindenburg. The hydrogen collects at the negative post of a charging battery, which is why smart people don't clamp the charger or jumper cable to the negative post. Idiot. Stephanie, in desperate need of more words to meet MWC, continued by pretending that anyone other than a worker in a battery factory might be exposed to "sulfuric acid mist." Give us a break!

Chandler closed by warning people to, "Follow manufacturer guidelines on maintenance, and when in doubt, get advice from a professional." Yeah, you should do that – and, above all, you should remember that Stephanie is a Dumbass of the Day, not a battery professional!

¹ The original has been deleted by Leaf Group, but can still be accessed using the Wayback machine at archive.org. Its URL was   ehow.com/about_5184049_dangers-lead-acid-battery-gas_.html

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