A mercury button battery that is used in watches and calculators is powered by the following reaction: Zn(s) + HgO(s) $\rightarrow$ZnO(s) + Hg(s) The substance that is oxidized in this battery is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the given reaction, Zn is oxidized (loses electrons) and HgO is reduced (gains electrons) to form Hg. Therefore, the substance that is oxidized in this battery is Zn.

A Mercury Button Battery That Is Used in Watches and Calculators