The document discusses batteries and their components. It defines a battery as a cell or group of cells that converts chemical energy to electrical energy through reversible chemical reactions, and can be recharged by passing current in the opposite direction of discharge. Batteries contain hazardous materials like sulfuric acid and lead that can cause health issues like burns, blindness, nerve damage and cancer. The document also describes primary batteries that directly convert chemical to electrical energy, and secondary batteries that must be charged first before converting stored chemical energy to electrical energy.