What makes non-rechargeable batteries non-rechargeable?

[KellyClarksonTV]

It looks like the chemical reactions can be reversed ... why cant they recharge
efffeciently and safely for thousands of cycles?

 

[Jupitersally]

It looks like the chemical reactions can be reversed ... why cant they recharge
efffeciently and safely for thousands of cycles?

Chemical entropy will prevent any reaction from complete reversal.
So even for a rechargable battery, ultimately it will loose its ability to recharge.

 

[Jerry Greenberg]

The chemestry behind modern batteries is fairly complex if you get in
to the details of it. To keep it simple, the chemical changes in a non
rechargeable batrtery is not reversable. Rechargeable batteries are
more complex in their structure, and are more expensive to produce.

Jerry G.
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