Mercury battery

Okay kiddo, a mercury battery is a type of battery that uses a chemical called mercury to make electricity.

Here's how it works: inside the battery, there are two things called electrodes. One is made of a metal called zinc, and the other is made of mercury oxide. The electrodes are separated by a material called an electrolyte, which contains a liquid that also has mercury in it.

When you connect the battery to something that needs electricity, like a toy or a flashlight, a chemical reaction happens inside the battery. The zinc and the mercury oxide start to react with the electrolyte, and this produces a flow of electrons, or electricity.

Mercury batteries were very popular in the past because they were small and long-lasting. But there's a problem: mercury is a toxic substance that can be harmful to people and the environment. So these days, most batteries use different chemicals instead of mercury.

So, while mercury batteries were useful back in the day, we now know that there are safer and better options out there. So if you ever come across a mercury battery, it's important to dispose of it properly so that it doesn't cause harm to anyone or anything.