Raw potato battery: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "==Uses== A simple source of electrochemical power requiring only [[zinc], copper and potatos. ==Hazards== * This reaction makes the potato toxic: it will contain meas...")
 
 
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==Description==
{{VoltaicCell
| name=Raw potato battery
| e=[[phosphoric acid]]
| nr=3Zn + 2H3PO4 &rarr; Zn<sub>3</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> + 3H<sub>2</sub>
| v=0.5
| icc=H<sup>+</sup>
| ppm=[[copper]]
| ppr=6H<sup>+</sup> + 6e<sup>-</sup> &rarr; 3H<sub>2</sub>
| npm=[[zinc]]
| npr=3Zn + 2H3PO4 &rarr; Zn<sub>3</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> + 6H<sup>+</sup> + 6e<sup>-</sup>
| edv=
| edm=
| ir=
}}
==Uses==
==Uses==
A simple source of electrochemical power requiring only [[zinc], [[copper]] and [[potato]]s.
A simple source of electrochemical power requiring only [[zinc]], [[copper]] and [[potato]]s.


==Hazards==
==Hazards==
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* Measure the short-circuit current between the strips. It should be between 0.1 and 10 mA.
* Measure the short-circuit current between the strips. It should be between 0.1 and 10 mA.
==See Also==
==See Also==
* [[Voltaic cell]]
==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category: Objects]]
[[Category: Objects]]

Latest revision as of 21:51, 18 September 2019

Description

Raw potato battery
Cell
Electrolyte phosphoric acid
Net reaction 3 Zn + 2 H3PO4→Zn(PO) + 3 H
Voltage 0.5v 
Internal charge carrier H+
Positive plate
Material copper
Reaction 6 H +  + 6 e-→3 H
Negative plate
Material zinc
Reaction 3 Zn + 2 H3PO4→Zn(PO) + 6 H +  + 6 e-

Uses

A simple source of electrochemical power requiring only zinc, copper and potatos.

Hazards

  • This reaction makes the potato toxic: it will contain measurable amounts of zinc phosphate along with smaller amounts of other zinc and copper compounds. These are even more toxic to fish than humans, so dispose of the used potato (without the metal strips) in a fire.

Production

Needed

  • A copper strip approximately 2-3cm wide by 10-15cm long by 0.5-2mm thick.
  • A zinc strip of the same dimentions
  • A potato

Assembly

  1. Push the copper strip a few cm deep into one end of the potato. If the potato is longer along one axis, insert the strip so that it is perpendicular to that axis.
  2. Push the zinc strip a few cm deep into one end of the potato. Likewise, if the potato is longer along one axis, insert the strip so that it is perpendicular to that axis.

Testing

  • Measure the voltage potential between the strips. It should be more than 0.25 but less than 1.15 volts.
  • Measure the short-circuit current between the strips. It should be between 0.1 and 10 mA.

See Also

References