How to Make a Voltaic Cell

Batteries conduct an electric current using the same principles as voltaic cells.

Whether a battery is composed of wet cells, like those found in automobiles, or dry cells, like those in flashlights, the principal of chemical reaction is the same. Any electrochemical cell that creates an electric current is referred to as a voltaic cell.

Things You'll Need

• Large glass container
• Strip of zinc metal
• Strip of copper metal
• Solution of zinc sulfate
• Solution of copper sulfate
• Porous barrier
• Two pieces of wire
• Small light bulb and socket

Instructions

Creating the Cell

1. Place the porous barrier in the glass container so it divides it into two equal parts.

2. Attach a wire between the copper strip and the light bulb and socket. Attach the second wire between the zinc strip and the light bulb.

3. Place the metal strips in the container on opposite sides of the barrier.

4. Add the copper sulfate solution on the side of the barrier that contains the copper stri, and the zinc sulfate on the side of the barrier with the zinc. Since the zinc and copper have different levels of reactivity, electrons will soon begin to flow from the zinc metal to the copper metal. As the zinc strip begins to lose electrons, it will have a positive charge. As more electrons gather on the copper strip it becomes negatively charged. This forces the negative ions in the copper sulfate to flow through the barrier toward the positive zinc strip, thus replenishing its electrons. The light bulb should light up as the current flows between the two strips.

Tips & Warnings

• While copper and zinc are used for the cell described here, other metals can be used as long as they have different levels of reactivity and are placed in solutions that contain their ions. For example, an aluminum strip could be placed in a solution of aluminum sulfate and connected to a strip of iron in an iron sulfate solution. If a porous barrier cannot be found, the metal strips can be placed in two separate glass containers and their solutions added in the same fashion. If this is done, an additional wire will be needed to connect the two metal strips so that a complete circuit is created.

• Use a small hobby-sized light and socket so that even a small current will light it.

References

• Montgomery College: Voltaic Cell
• Georgia State University Hyperphysics: Voltaic Cells