Enviro-Battery!
to the rescue!
Mr. Potato and Lemonstein Attempt to Save the
World with their Genius Creation: The Enviro
Battery!
How Does Their Enviro Battery Work?
Electricity is generated when you place zinc and
copper plates connected together into an
aqueous medium such as a potato, mud, water, or
a piece of fruit.
“They decided to start
with this experiment...”
The zinc plate is the negative electrode and the copper
plate is the positive electrode. When the metals are
immersed into the electrolyte ( aqueous solution), a
chemical reaction takes place.
Individual electrons are released
when the acid in the electrolyte
breaks down the atomic structure of
the copper and zinc.
This flow of the electrons from a reactive metal (zinc)to
a less reactive metal (copper) forms a small electrical
current, which will light up a small light bulb!
Things You Need to Know...
The positive terminal is always the red colored wire,
and the negative is always the black colored wire.
Always connect the black (negative) to the zinc plate
(or the more reactive metal) and the red (positive) to
the copper plate (or the least reactive metal).
“Lemonstein and Mr.
Potato first need to
train their workers
before they attempt to
save the world”
How Did They Make a Battery with Water?
When you add vinegar to a water solution, it will
cause the LED to light up brighter. This is
because water is a neutral PH and metals are
more reactive in acidic solutions. The current
produced is stronger when vinegar, or another
acidic solution,is added to the water.
Or, another
experiment...
How Did They Make a Paper Clip Battery?
Most metal paper clips are plated with a
layer of zinc. When the metals are inserted
in the acidic water, a reaction takes place
and a current is formed!
Or, this
experiment...
How Did They Make a
Coin Battery that Sings?
Most brownish colored coins are
made from copper or a copper alloy.
The coins act as a substitute for the
copper plates. So when a connection
with more reactive metal (like
aluminum) is mixed with an acidic
solution like vinegar, a reaction takes
place.
It will create enough current to
generate sound or even light!!!!
Or,this experiment...
How Did They Make a Fork Battery?
The fork acts like the positive electrode of the battery.
Most tableware utensils are plated with a metal which is
less reactive than zinc. When both the utensils and zinc
plates are inserted into the lemon, a reaction takes place.
Electrons move from the zinc plates to the fork forming a
current.
AHHH, the last experiment!!!
They combined all they knew and learned and gave it to Dr.
ACE and his Mentors to teach the students of today so that
those students can make tomorrow a better day!
And that's how they saved the world, kids!!!!
Fun Facts
Gaston Plante invented the
first lead-acid battery in
1859, and Thomas Edison
invented the first alkaline cell
in 1914!
Why are store bought batteries hazardous
to the environment?
– They are pollutants!!! The chemicals in
batteries can corrode and leak into the soil,
thus making their way into our water system.
How are batteries recharged?
--Recharging a battery simply
requires that you reverse the flow
of electrons using a separate
energy source such as electricity
or solar panels. The problem with
recharging is that the battery will
start to lose its charge a little
faster each time it is recharged.
“Voltaic Pile” : Did you know that one of the first
batteries was actually a stack of metal discs separated
by cotton that was soaked in salt water?
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