Potato Battery Light Bulb

Introduction to potato battery light bulb

We can use potato to produce electricity or to light a light bulb and it is known as Potato battery light bulb. The principle of an electrochemical cell is made use in a Potato battery light bulb. Chemical energy is transformed into electricity (electrical energy). The zinc and the copper acts as the anode and cathode terminals of the potato battery. A metal coin (copper) and a galvanized nail are used for this purpose. A tomato, lemon or other citrus fruit can be substituted for Potato to produce electricity. With the help of ordinary electrical wires, the potato can be used to create a voltaic cell, which will power a very small bulb or a light emitting diode (LED). A LED Clock or a calculator also can be made working using the Potato battery. Understanding Wavelength of Ultraviolet Light is always challenging for me but thanks to all math help websites to help me out.

Materials Required to Make a Potato Battery Light Bulb

Materials required to make a Potato battery light bulb are 2 Potatoes, 2 galvanized nails or galvanized screws (act as zinc electrode), 2 copper coins or 2 thick copper wires (act as copper electrode), Three connecting copper wires ( with alligator clip preferred) and an LED Bulb.

Procedure to Make a Potato Battery Light Bulb

First step is to take a potato and insert the coin (copper electrode) and galvanized nail or screw (Zinc electrode) at a distance.  The zinc and copper electrodes should not be touched each other. Repeat the same for another Potato. Then, one end of one of the three copper connecting wires is to be connected to the copper coin of one potato and the other end to the galvanized nail or screw of the second potato. Then, one end of the second and third connecting copper wires should be connected to the galvanized nail or screw of the first potato and to the copper coin of the second potato respectively. Then the other ends of the second and third copper connecting wires can be connected to the LED Bulb. (Or to ammeter to measure the electric current produced). So we get electricity out of just 2 potatoes and a couple of bits of metal.

But this kind of battery generally produces only a few milliards. So, in order to get enough voltage, 2 or 3 potatoes can be put in a raw (series connection) and in order to get enough current, a bunch can be connected in parallel. Is this topic formula Fahrenheit to celsius hard for you? Watch out for my coming posts.

Working of Potato Battery Light Bulb

Electric current is produced by the movement of electrons from one atom to another in a conductor. The insertion of two common metal electrodes into the potato causes a chemical reaction to occur resulting in current. The potatoes do not participate directly in the reaction. It acts as an electrolyte for the transport of the zinc and copper ions in the solution, while keeping the copper and zinc electrodes apart. The electro-chemical reaction of zinc with copper is due to the presence of Phosphoric acid (or H3PO4) in potato. Zinc is an active metal and it reacts readily with acid to liberate electrons. At the metal coin (Copper electrode), electrons from the copper attaches to the hydrogen ions in the phosphoric acid which depletes the electrons.