Batteries are an important part that cannot be separated from our daily lives. Batteries allow us to carry and operate electronic devices without the hassle of looking for a power outlet. Batteries are capable of generating electricity by passing electrons between two dissimilar metals (one positively charged and the other negatively charged). Electrons produce a current as they pass through a solution containing molecules that transport charged particles back and forth between two dissimilar metals. By following these simple steps, you can make a very simple battery using two different metals and a lemon.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making a Battery with One Lemon
Step 1. Prepare the materials needed
To make lemon batteries, you will need copper coins, galvanized nails, lemons (10 in total), a knife and a voltmeter. This activity should be supervised by an adult, especially when using a knife. Wash copper coins with a mild detergent to ensure that the surface of the coins is clean. You can use any type of lemon, but a lemon with a thinner skin will produce a better battery.
- Actually a copper plate will work better than a coin (if you have one).
- Galvanized nails have a zinc coating which is essential for this experiment. You can get it at a hardware store or building materials/household supply store.
- Aluminum foil can replace nails if you have trouble getting them.
- Voltmeters can be purchased at hardware stores or building materials/household supply stores.
Step 2. Squeeze the lemon without cutting it
You can roll the lemon across the table by pressing it lightly. This will release the juice inside the lemon allowing the battery to run.
The acidity of lemon juice is ideal for the chemical reaction sought in this particular experiment. The juice contains a solution of the molecules needed to transport an electric current between the two metal ends of the battery
Step 3. Make a small incision in the rind in the center of the lemon
The incision should be deep enough that you can insert a copper coin halfway into the lemon. Adult supervision is required for this step. To keep the coin firmly stuck to the lemon, make sure you don't make the incision too wide.
Step 4. Insert coins and nails into the lemon
The coin should stick firmly in the notch you just made. The nail should be driven into the lemon about 2 cm from the position of the coin. These two objects will function as positive and negative poles of the battery.
- The two metals must be placed close together so that a chemical reaction can occur.
- However, try to keep the coin and nail from touching the inside of the lemon. If that happens, the battery will not work properly and you will not get electricity.
- Make sure the coin and nail are inserted deep enough into the lemon so they can hit the lemon juice.
Step 5. Attach the voltmeter clamp to the nail and coin
Use one of the voltmeter clamps to clamp the nails and the other clamp to clamp the coins. There should now be a slight increase in the voltage across the voltmeter. If the voltmeter shows a negative value, you can simply swap the clamps on the nail and coin and you will see a positive voltage.
If the resulting voltage is very low, try moving the nail closer to the coin
Method 2 of 2: Making a Multicell Lemon Battery
Step 1. Prepare 10 lemons
A multicell battery is several batteries connected together. In this case, you will connect several lemon batteries together. To make a multi-cell lemon battery, you will need 4 copper coins, 4 galvanized nails, 4 lemons, a knife, 38 cm of copper wire, a wire cutter, a ruler and a voltmeter. You can use any lemon, but a lemon with a thinner skin will result in a better battery life.
- Ask an adult for help, especially when using a knife.
- Wash the coin with a mild detergent to get a clean surface.
- If you have lobster tongs, use them.
- Galvanized nails have a thin layer of zinc which is essential for this experiment. You can buy it at a hardware store or building materials/household supply store.
- Use aluminum foil if you can't find the nails.
- You can connect as many lemons as you want to increase the battery voltage.
Step 2. Squeeze the lemon without cutting it
Roll each lemon across the counter with a little pressure. Pressing the lemon this way will release the juices inside the lemon allowing the battery to run.
The acidity of lemon juice is ideal for the chemical reaction sought in this experiment. The molecules in the juice will carry an electric current between the two metal ends of the battery
Step 3. Cut the copper wire into five sections of 7.5 cm each
Ask an adult for help with this step. Measure the wire 7.5 cm long, then cut it using a wire cutter. Don't worry too much if it doesn't fit 7.5 cm. You only need wire to wrap around coins and nails.
Step 4. Connect the coins and nails using a piece of wire
You have to wind the coins and nails into a series. Take the wire and wind it a few times around the coin and use the other end to wrap around the head of the nail. Coins and nails will be inserted into different lemons. So, make sure you leave enough space (about 4 cm) between the two.
- Make sure the wire is wrapped tightly around each coin and nail. The battery will not work properly if the individual components are not properly connected.
- You'll have three pairs of coins and spikes when you're done.
Step 5. Wrap a piece of wire around one coin and one nail
The battery will start with a coin wrapped in copper wire and end with a nail wrapped in copper wire. Just like you did before, take a piece of wire and wrap it around the coin a few times. Using a separate piece of wire, wind it several times around the nail head.
Again, wrap the wire as tightly as possible around each section for a good connection
Step 6. Make a small incision in the lemon peel in the center of the lemon
The incision should be large enough to insert a copper coin halfway into the lemon. Adult supervision is required for this step. The coin must stick firmly. So, make sure the incision is not too big.
Step 7. Insert coins and wire-wrapped nails separately on the first and last lemons
Line up the four lemons and choose one as the first lemon and another as the last lemon. Insert the wire-wrapped coin into the incision at the top of the first lemon in the series. Drive the wire-wrapped nail into the last lemon.
You don't have to worry if the lemons don't line up neatly as long as a coin and a nail are inserted into separate lemons
Step 8. Insert the string of coins and nails wrapped around the copper wire into the different lemons
Each lemon will eventually have a coin and a nail stuck in it. The first lemon in the row is already coined. So, drive the assembled nails into the first lemon. The second lemon will be paired with coins from the series. The second lemon will get the spikes from the second set of coins and spikes.
- Keep driving alternately coins and nails until you reach the last lemon which will already have the wire wrapped around it in.
- Take care that the nails and coins do not touch each other inside each lemon. If that happens, the battery will short circuit and you won't get any voltage.
Step 9. Attach the voltmeter clamp to the free ends of the wire
Use the clamp end of the voltmeter to clamp the copper wire wrapped around the nail and the other clamp to clamp the wire wrapped around the coin. There should now be a voltage increase on the voltmeter display. If the voltmeter shows a negative value, you just need to swap the clamps on the nail and coin and you will get a positive voltage.
If the resulting tension is too low, try moving the nail closer to the coin on each lemon. Make sure all the wires are connected with the respective coins and nails
Warning
- Always be careful when working with electricity.
- The power generated by a single cell is not large. You'll need a few connections to power a light bulb (two or more cells to make a battery).
