How have discoveries affected society and your life?

Everything you ever wanted to know about batteries

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A mini History lesson: Some information comes from http://www.allaboutbatteries.com/) In June 1936, workers constructing a new railway near the city of Baghdad uncovered an ancient tomb. Relics in the tomb allowed archeologists to identify it as belonging to the Parthian Empire. The Parthians, although illiterate and nomadic, were the dominating force in the Fertile Crescent area between 190 BC to 224 AD. It is known that in 129 BC they had acquired lands up to the banks of the Tigris River, near Baghdad. Among the relics found in the tomb was a clay jar or vase, sealed with pitch at its top opening. An iron rod protruded from the center, surrounded by a cylindrical tube made of wrapped copper sheet. The height of the jar was about 15 cm, and the copper tube was about 4 cm in diameter by 12 cm in length. Tests of replicas, when filled with an acidic liquid such as vinegar, showed it could have produced between 1.5 and 2 volts between the iron and copper. It is suspected that this early battery, or more than one in series, may have been used to electroplate gold onto silver artifacts. A German archeologist, Dr. Wilhelm Konig, identified the clay pot as a possible battery in 1938. While its 2000-year old date would make it the first documented battery invention, there may have been even earlier technology at work. Dr. Konig also found Sumerian vases made of copper, but plated with silver, dating back to 2500 BC. 1786 -- Luigi Galvani notices the reaction of frog legs to voltage He was remarkably close to discovering the principle of the battery, but missed it. He thought the reaction was due to a property of the tissues. He used two dissimilar metals in contact with a moist substance to touch dissected frog legs. The resulting current made the muscles in the frog legs twitch. 1800 -- Alessandro Volta publishes details of a battery That battery was made by piling up layers of silver, paper or cloth soaked in salt, and zinc. Many triple layers were assembled into a tall pile, without paper or cloth between zinc and silver, until the desired voltage was reached. More interesting history of the battery here: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/when_was_the_battery_invented Reactions in electrochemical cells Electrochemical cells, also known as voltaic cells (or simply batteries), can look quite different, yet they all contain the same fundamental components. Each cell is composed of 2 metal strips called electrodes. These 2 metals strips are then immersed in a solution that is able to conduct electricity. We call this liquid an electrolyte. These two electrodes are then connected with wires to a light bulb or other device that requires electrical energy to function. Depending on the combination of metals chosen, one metal will donate electrons to the other metal. If there is a pathway for these electrons to flow, then a current is created. During this process, the electrode that donates the electrons will start to decompose, as its ions will dissolve into the solution It is therefore logical to assume that various combinations of metals and electrolytes can produce different amounts of current. Many different combinations have been experimented with, some being more effective than others. Check out this link about different types of batteries and check out this link about the current best battery technology.

ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS INVESTIGATION

How have discoveries affected society and your life?

BACKGROUND We all use batteries as a source of electrical energy. But do you know how batteries work? In this investigation, you will explore the basic principles that govern the operation of this common and useful device. Batteries are one type of device known as an ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL. As the name suggests, this device converts chemical energy into electrical energy. In 1800, an Italian scientist named Allesandro Volta first discovered the combination of chemicals that could successfully make this type of energy conversion. His first device was called a voltaic pile, and even today the term VOLTAIC CELL is used to describe electrochemical cells. All electrochemical cells have certain common features. 1. 2. 3. There are two ELECTRODES made of different metals, each with a different ability to attract electrons. The electrons will move through a CONDUCTOR to the metal with the greater electron-attracting ability, and generate an electrical current. The electrodes must be placed in a solution that can also conduct an electric current. This type of solution is called an ELECTROLYTE.

PROBLEMS: How can we make an electrochemical cell in the laboratory AND from common household items? What factors influence the potential difference in an electrochemical cell? Is it possible to light a light bulb with our laboratory made electrochemical cells? MATERIALS: Dilute sulfuric acid Distilled water Salt solution Aluminum strip (1) Copper strips (2) Zinc strip (1) Graphite rod (1) PROCEDURE: conducting wires 100 mL beaker voltmeter scalpel sand paper lemon, potato, other fruit

PART A: CONSTRUCTING AND COMPARING SIMPLE ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS Clean the bottom half of the copper, zinc and aluminum strips with sand paper. 1. ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL #1: a) Half-fill a beaker with distilled water. b) Place one copper strip and one zinc strip into the beaker so that they DO NOT touch each other. c) Connect the two electrodes using the conducting wires AND a voltmeter. d) Record the voltage, and any other observations about the operation of your electrochemical cell. ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL #2: a) Half-fill a beaker with salt water. b) Place one copper strip and one zinc strip into the beaker so that they DO NOT touch each other. c) Connect the two electrodes using the conducting wires AND a voltmeter. d) Record the voltage, and any other observations about the operation of your electrochemical cell.

2.

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3.

ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL #3: a) Half-fill a beaker with sulfuric acid. CAUTION!!!! Sulfuric acid is corrosive! Use with care. b) Place one copper strip and one zinc strip into the beaker so that they DO NOT touch each other. c) Connect the two electrodes using the conducting wires AND a voltmeter. d) Record the voltage, and any other observations about the operation of your electrochemical cell. ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL #4: a) Repeat the set-up for cell #3, this time using 2 copper electrodes. ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL #5: a) Repeat the set-up for cell #3, this time using 1 copper electrode and 1 aluminum electrode. ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL #6: a) Repeat the set-up for cell #3, this time using 1 copper electrode and 1 graphite electrode. ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL #7 a) Repeat the set-up for cell #3, this time using 1 zinc electrode and 1 aluminum electrode.

4. 5.

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PART B: FUN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS FRUIT AND VEGETABLE BATTERIES 8. a) Carefully make two small cuts through the peels or skins of a potato, lemon or other fruit/vegetable. b) CLEAN the copper and zinc strips from Part A with water and dry. c) CAREFULLY insert on copper strip and one zinc strip into the fruit/vegetable. MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT TOUCH EACH OTHER. d) Connect the metal strips (electrodes), with a voltmeter in between them. e) Record the potential difference of your fruit battery. Repeat step 6 with a different fruit or vegetable. Pair up with another group and connect 2 fruit batteries in series. You will need to think carefully about how to connect the electrodes! Record the potential difference.

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PART C: CLASS ACTIVITY HOW MANY FRUIT BATTERIES DO WE NEED TO MAKE A LIGHT BULB GLOW? As a class, find a way to answer this question. What is the total potential difference needed to light the bulb?

RESULTS PARTS A and B Prepare a well-designed table to record your observations for Steps 1 to 7 in Part A.

How have discoveries affected society and your life?

RESULTS PART C USING FRUIT BATTERIES TO LIGHT A LIGHT BULB? Record the results of the class activity. Include measurements of voltage. QUESTIONS 1. Describe the electrochemical cell that produced the greatest potential difference. Draw a simple labeled diagram to show the set up.

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Electrochemical cells #1, #2 and #3 could make up one mini-experiment. a) b) c) What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? What are the controlled variables?

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Electrochemical cells #3, #4, #5 and #6 could make up a different mini-experiment. a) b) c) What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? What are the controlled variables?

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Complete this chart showing the effect of different factors on the operation of an electrochemical cell: Change in cell Using identical metals as electrodes Using aluminum with copper instead of zinc with copper Changing the solution from sulfuric acid to water Changing the solution to salt water (compared to the cell using sulfuric acid) Changing the solution from a lab chemical to a fruit or vegetable: ________________ Effect on potential difference

5.

a)

How many fruit/vegetable batteries are needed to light the light bulb? (Include the type of fruit or vegetable battery.)

b)

What potential difference is represented by this number of batteries? Explain.

How have discoveries affected society and your life?

c)

How many copper/zinc cells in sulfuric acid would be needed to light this same light bulb? Show your work.

6.

If you were designing a voltaic cell, which combination of electrodes and electrolytes would you use? WHY?

7.

Explain how the fruit/vegetable acts as a battery.