What characterizes a primary cell or battery?

A primary cell or battery is characterized by its capacity to deliver its energy only once and then be discarded. These batteries generate electrical energy through irreversible chemical reactions within their cells. Once the energy has been depleted, the chemical components cannot be restored to their original state, which means they cannot be recharged and reused. This is in contrast to secondary cells or batteries, which are designed for multiple charge and discharge cycles.

The other descriptions pertain to different types of batteries. For example, a rechargeable battery is specifically designed to allow for multiple charging cycles. Additionally, while some primary batteries may operate at various voltage levels, not all are designed to function at high voltages. The aspect of irreversible chemical action is essential but applies broadly to primary cells without implying that they can be recharged. Thus, the correct understanding of primary cells is that they are single-use devices, making the second option accurate.