Why aren’t all batteries rechargeable? Is there some part of the production that makes this unfeasible?

Question

As the title says.

Surely it would make more sense environmentally and for the consumer if all batteries we rechargeable.

In: Technology

Answer 1

Non-rechargeable batteries typically contain small amounts of water in the electrolyte paste. When recharging, it is possible that instead of reversing the chemical reaction that produced the electricity you chemically split the water and produce hydrogen gas. This would build up pressure within the battery and cause it to rupture.

Rechargeable batteries prevent this in one of 3 ways:

1. Don’t contain any water
2. Have a catalyst that reforms the hydrogen back into water
3. Are vented (like car batteries)