Abstract
Lemons have a lot of electrolytes, in form of citric acid. This acid assists in breaking down the atomic configuration of the copper and zinc plates that is placed in the lemon during such an experiment. Once the copper and zinc has been broken down, electrons are liberated. The copper and zinc then become electrodes. Electrodes permit the electrons to flow liberally through them. These free electrons habitually flow from negative electrode to positive one. In this experiment the copper is the positive electrode and the zinc is the negative. The movement of these electrons are computed in the lighting of the globe. The quicker the electrons travel the more energy they will generate.
Introduction
Lemon battery is a characteristic science experimentation employed to reveal the basics of a chemical battery system. Lemon batteries are capable of producing a dim glow in an LED lamp. Normal Batteries encompass two dissimilar metals, copper and zinc, submerged in an acidic solution. The copper metal roles as the positive electrode and the zinc metal as the negative electrode (Oon 236). The acidic solution in the battery is the electrolyte. In the case of the lemon battery, the citric acid in lemon juice is the electrolyte. It helps to break down the atomic configuration of the zinc and copper metals. These result in the discharge of solitary electrons; thus the flow of individual electrons producing electricity. These electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the battery, the measure of force of the moving electrons is called voltage. This is the notion behind the lemon battery experiment (Morgan 107).
Hypothesis
Energy is not only confined to from burning gasoline, coal, or oil, it can also come from the chemicals in food. In this experiment, a chemical reaction is generated with the acid of a lemon and metal to produce enough energy the LED lamp.
Hypothesis; so does a lemon have enough chemical reaction to create enough energy to power a small light.
Experiment
Requirements
1. 1 lemon
2. 3 copper plates
3. 3 zinc Plates
4. 6 connection wires
5. 1 light tower with LED lamp
Procedure
Step 1
The first step involves cutting a slit into one side of the lemon, and inserting the clean copper plate into it. On the other side, put in the galvanized zinc plate. Ensure that they do not touch each other. They form the positive and negative electrodes correspondingly, thereby forming the single cell of the battery.
Step 2
To achieve sufficient voltage to light the bulb, you repeat the same procedure for more lemon batteries and connect them via a metal wire.
Step 3
At the plastic base of an LED lamp, one will find two wires and a flat spot. The wire just alongside the flat spot requires to be attached to the negative side of the battery, while the other wire requires to be connected to the positive terminal. The electrons flow from the copper plates end to the zinc end, thereby forming an electronic circuit which makes the LED Lamp to glow faintly.
Discussion
The above steps can assist one make a lemon battery at home devoid of much effort. LED lamps work at very low voltages and low currents. Since lemon batteries generate low current, it is ideal to connect an LED lamp to it. After the procedures were duly followed a dim light was seen at the LED lamp. Electrically, this means a voltage was generated meaning there was current that is the flow of electrons between the cathode and anode. It thus proves that a chemical reaction can cause a current enough to light a bulb.
Conclusion
The hypothesis is proven right since the lemons chemical reaction was enough to create power to light the LED bulb.
Work cited
1. Oon, Hock Leong Chemistry Expression: An Inquiry Approach. Panpac ;Education Pte Ltd. p. 236. 2007.
2. Morgan, A. Things a Boy Can Do with Electrochemistry, Appleton-Century: New York, 1940; P 107.
