Final answer:
Lead sulfate (PbSO4) forms as a product in a lead storage battery, and mechanical shock degrades its performance by causing lead sulfate to dislodge and accumulate, potentially leading to short circuits and reduced battery capacity.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a lead storage battery, the product formed from the lead components is lead sulfate (PbSO4). This occurs during the battery's discharge cycle where the redox reaction between the lead anode and the lead dioxide cathode, in the presence of sulfuric acid, results in the formation of lead sulfate on the electrodes of the battery.
Mechanical shock can cause the degradation of a lead storage battery's performance due to the dislodging of lead sulfate crystals that accumulate on the electrodes during discharge. These dislodged crystals can accumulate at the bottom of the battery cells, potentially causing short circuits or loss of active material that is essential for the electrochemical reactions, thus reducing the battery's capacity and efficiency over time.