交換 and 取り替え: exchanging with others and replacing an item
Compare exchanging opinions with replacing batteries, recognizing contexts in which the two expressions overlap.
Exchanging or replacing
交換, read こうかん, means exchanging things or replacing one with another. 会議で意見を交換しました。 says that opinions were exchanged at the meeting.
情報交換のために集まりました。 says that people gathered to exchange information. 交換 is not limited to replacing physical objects.
Replacing something in use
取り替え, read とりかえ, means replacement of something with another. 電池の取り替えが必要です。 says that the batteries need replacing.
The verb is 取り替える. 古いタオルを新しいものに取り替えました。 means that an old towel was replaced with a new one. を marks the item replaced, and に marks its replacement.
Overlapping replacement uses and different contexts
電池を交換しました。 and 電池を取り替えました。 can both describe replacing batteries. Do not treat the expressions as mutually exclusive in this context.
意見交換 involves people sharing opinions, rather than simply replacing an object. Checking whether the object is an opinion or a component helps identify the relevant use.
Can 電池を交換しました。 be used to say that the batteries were replaced?
Show the answer and why
Yes. 交換 and 取り替える can overlap when describing battery replacement.