Improvised BatteryƒeƒLƒXƒg ƒ{ƒbƒNƒX: ƒeƒLƒXƒg ƒ{ƒbƒNƒX: SCIENCE CONCEPT ƒeƒLƒXƒg ƒ{ƒbƒNƒX: .Why saltwater solution conducts electricity? Water conducts electricity (except 100% pure water) but only small amount of current can move into the water. On the other hand, salt (which is an ionic compound) can conduct electricity when it is mix with water. Salt is made up of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). Sodium is a positive ion and chlorine is a negative ion, when mix with water, these ions split into two. The water molecules pull the ions apart from each other. When a positive and negative terminal of an electrical source was dipped into the saltwater solution, the positive ions are attracted to the negative terminal of the source and the negative ions are attracted to the positive terminal of the source, since opposite charges attracts. The ions serve as the bridge in order for electrons to flow. Why Charcoal can conduct electricity? Charcoal is an amorphous carbon which is essentially graphite. Carbon in a form of graphite can conduct electricity. It is the only non-metallic element that conducts electricity. * Note: Charcoal which is burn in low degree temperature is NOT a good conductor of electricity. Suggestion: Read more on charcoalfs property and composition.

Taking it further:

1. Tell the students to try some other liquids or solutions like soda or baking powder in water or sugar in water and try to compare them.

2. Try to use different kinds of charcoal.

3. Ask the student on how they can increase the voltage of the improvised battery.

1. Mix salt and water in a drinking cup to make a saltwater solution. Make sure that it is saturated that you can see salt settling in the bottom of the cup after mixing it.

2. Soak the paper towel into the saltwater solution. Use the soaked paper towel to cover the charcoal. Then, cover it with an aluminum foil as shown in the picture. This is ready to use as a battery.

 

3. To check if the battery works, get a pair of connecting wire with alligator clip and connect it to the terminals of the electronic melody. Then touch one end of the alligator clip to the charcoal and the other end to the aluminum foil as shown. If your battery works, you should hear music from the electronic melody. If it doesnft work, try reversing the charcoal battery to find the correct positive and negative terminal.

Note: If electronic melody is not available, you can use a multi tester instead. One advantage of this is you can measure the current flow and the voltage of your improvised battery.

Option 1

· Salt (about 2-3 tbsp)

· Water

· Drinking Cup

· Paper Towel

· Charcoal

· Aluminum Foil

· Connecting wires with alligator clip

· Electronic Melody
ƒeƒLƒXƒg ƒ{ƒbƒNƒX: EXPERIMENT LISTS PHYSICS Balancing a Dragonfly Does Air Takes Up Space? Improvised Battery (Option 1) Improvised Battery (Option 2) Improvised Battery (Option 3) Tornado in the Bottle Diver Surface Tension and Air Pressure Aluminum Wrap Railway Light to Sound Magnetic field in 3D Simple Kaleidoscope Art in Polarizer Simple Spectroscope Electrostatic Motor Paper Earphone CHEMISTRY Vegetable/Fruit Charcoal Red Cabbage Extract (Identifying Acidity of a Liquid) Alkalinity of a Liquid Crayon Making Hand Printing using Soap Testing Raindrop Acidity using Red Sweet Potato Powder Magic! (Water doesnft fall?) BIOLOGY 1. Leaves Puzzle ACTIVITIES Fossil Hunting Gold Sieving Smelting Steel Observing Classes Attending Trainings ŠpŠΫŽlŠpŒ`: HOME ƒeƒLƒXƒg ƒ{ƒbƒNƒX: VOCABULARY Saturated Solution— A solution in which the maximum amount of solvent has been dissolved. Any more solute added will sit as crystals on the bottom of the container. (http://groups.molbiosci.northwestern.edu) Terminal—A contact on an electrical device (such as battery) at which electric current enters or leaves).

MATERIALS

PROCEDURE