Are batteries explosive?
Yes, in certain circumstances they are. Lead acid batteries are explosive because of the build up of hydrogen within and about the battery. A spark can ignite the hydrogen and explode the battery. Sealed dry cell batteries can explode if recharged because of the gas pressure building up in the battery during the charging process. The gas can’t vent, so the battery explodes if the gas reached a critical pressure. Lithium ion batteries can explode under a number of circumstances. The most common relates to the battery exploding because the flammable organic polymer electrolyte inside the battery leaks and catches fire, exploding the battery. Some also explode if the voltage regulator circuit fails, allowing the battery to rapidly discharge, heating the electrolyte in the sealed battery to the point where it expands and explodes the battery casing.
