Question

What are the function of manganese dioxide in a dry cell ​

Answer 1

It acts as a depolarizer in the dry cell

Step-by-step explanation:

• Simple cells such as dry cells experience two major defects which are a disadvantage over the other cells.
• The two defects are polarization and local action.
• Local action is the "eating away" of the zinc plate which is the negative electrode in a simple cell.
• Polarization, on the other hand, is the formation of hydrogen gas on the positive plate of a simple cell.
• A depolarizer such as manganese dioxide is used to overcome polarization in a simple cell.