Student viewpoints on the importance and consequences of toxic object management and end of life disposal

Abstract

Over the past few years, batteries have become increasingly more common in electronic devices as part of people’s daily lives. Concerns for the environment have grown due to the improper disposal of these materials which is increasing. Batteries contain potentially toxic metals in their composition, which can lead to soil contamination due to exposure to weather conditions and rain. Concerning this matter, to prove the harm that batteries cause to aquatic environments when incorrectly discarded, students decided to carry out leaching tests that consist of using collected rainwater and a simulation of seawater, to which they added alkaline L1154 batteries connected in series and lithium batteries as well. This hands-on learning experience is intended for high school students and can be adapted to be taken in the first year of Chemistry at universities. The adaptation offers a valuable opportunity for students of different educational levels to explore the environmental impacts of batteries, provoking a deeper understanding of the chemistry involving these devices.