545

THE PHYSICS TEACHER UVol. 46 December 2008

Al#m !#m$A r %attery The Salty Sc e!ce o" the

Stephanie V. Chasteen, &! 'er( ty o" Colora)o* %o#l)er* C+ N. Dennis Chasteen, &! 'er( ty o" ,eHam.(h re* D#rham* ,H Paul Doherty, The E/.lorator #m* Sa! 0ra!c (co* CA

r# t batter e( a!) (alt-ater batter e( are e/cel$ le!t -ay( to e/.lore ( m.le c rc# t( ! the cla((room. The(e are e/am.le( o" a r batter e(1

8ater al( a!) Co!(tr#ct o! The co!(tr#ct o! o" th ( cell ( borro-e) lar2ely "rom the E/.lorator #m4( Square Wheels2 boo3. 0or "#ll )eta l( o! co!(tr#ct o!* .lea(e ' ( t htt.9::---. e/o.!et:.a#l):(alt-ater. Yo# - ll !ee)9 1. co..er 6.artly (tr ..e) co..er cor) or a . .e "rom the har)-are (tore7* 10 cm lo!2 2. al#m !#m "o l* 10 cm by 10 cm ;. table (alt* -ater* a!) c#.(

! -h ch metal react( - th o/y2e! ! the a r ! or)er to 2e!erate "ree electro!(* -h ch "lothro#2h a! e/ter!al c rc# t a!) )o -or3. St#)e!t( are ty. cally tol) that the (alt or "r# t -ater act( a( a! electrolyte to br !2 electro!( "rom the a!o)e to the catho)e. That4( tr#e* b#t t lea'e( the battery a( a blac3 bo/. Phy( c( teacher( o"te! )o!4t ha'e the bac32ro#!) to e/.la ! the chem (try beh !) the(e batter e(. 5e4'e -r tte! th ( .a.er to e/.lore the electrochem (try beh !) a! a r battery #( !2 co..er catho)e* al#m $ !#m a!o)e* a!) (alt-ater. Act ' t e( #( !2 batter e( are #(e"#l ! .art beca#(e (t#)e!t( are o"te! "am l ar - th 'olta2e drops acro(( a c rc# t 6a( ! (er al re( (tor(7 b#t ha'e "e-er o..ort#! $ t e( to e/.er e!ce (er al 'olta2e gains. Th ( act ' ty ca! al(o be #(e) ! ) (c#(( o!( o" alter!at 'e e!er2y a!) .ro' )e a "rame-or3 "or ) (c#(( !2 "#el cell(. 2

THE PHYSICS TEACHER UVol. 46* December 2008

4. " 'e all 2ator cl . lea)( 5. l 2ht em tt !2 ) o)e 6<ED7 or a 12$V )c m ! b#==er 6try Ra) oShac3 >2?;$065 or >2?;$0?57 8 / abo#t 20 2 o" (alt - th 400 ml o" -arm -ater. The amo#!t( are !ot that m.orta!t* b#t th ( - ll 2 'e yo# a (ol#t o! that ( abo#t 5@ (alt by -e 2ht. 0ol) the al#m !#m "o l ! hal" a!) the! ! hal" a2a ! le!2th- (e to 2 'e yo# a lo!2 .a))le. Str . the !(#la$ t o! o"" both e!)( o" the co..er - re* lea' !2 a (hort (ect o! o" !(#lat o! ! the m ))le to hol) the (tra!)( to2ether. Se.arate the (tra!)( o" o!e e!) (o t loo3( l 3e a broom. &( !2 the all 2ator cl . lea)(* cl . the al#m !#m "o l to o!e ( )e o" a c#.. Cl . the - re (tra!)( o" the Abroom ha!)leB .art o" the co..er

- re to the other ( )e o" the c#. (o the (.rea) AbroomB (ect o! ( !( )e the c#.. Th ( ( !oo!e AcellB ! yo#r battery. 8ore c#.( ca! be co!!ecte) ! (er e( to th ( o!e* - th the all 2ator cl . lea) attache) to the co..er electro)e o" o!e c#. co!!ect !2 to the al#m !#m electro)e o" the !e/t c#.. Co!!ect the " !al t-o lea)( to a m#lt meter* <ED* or . e=oelectr c b#==er. 0 ll the c#.( - th the (alt-ater (ol#t o!. 5hat ha..e!(C To Do a!) ,ot ce The m#lt meter (ho#l) re2 (ter a c#rre!t* a!) the <ED (ho#l) 2lo- ) mly. I" the <ED )oe( !ot 2lo-* try re'er( !2 the lea)( o" the <ED ! the c rc# tD t4( a ) o)e a!) - ll o!ly allo- c#rre!t to .a(( ! o!e ) rect o!. I! a cro-)e) a!) -ell$l t cla((room* the

545
THE PHYSICS TEACHER UVol. 46 December 2008

0 2. 1. Electro! "lo- ! the (alt-ater cell.

How does the cell work?

The (ta!)ar) Ablac3 bo/B a!(-er ( that co..er ( more electro!e2at 'e tha! al#m !#m a!) - !( the t#2$o"$-ar "or electro!(. Th (* ho-e'er* 2!ore( the m.orta!t role o" ) ((ol'e) o/y2e!* + . I! the e/ter$ 2 c rc# t* the "lo- o" electro!( ( "rom the !al al#m !#m <ED co..er ) ((ol'e) o/y2e! 6the o..o( te ) rect o! "rom the co!'e!t o!al c#rre!t7. %#t !( )e the (ol#t o!* electro!( carr e) by the o!( m#(t "lo- "rom co..er 6catho)e7 al#m !#m 6a!o)e7 ! or)er to com.lete the c rc# t a!) re.le! (h the electro!( lo(t by al#m !#m 6(ee 0 2. 17. Ho- )oe( th ( ha..e!* a!) -hat ( the role o" the (altC 5e e/.la ! th ( belo-. It4( ! ce to remar3 that the electro!( are 2a ! !2 .ote!t al e!er2y 6thro#2h a (er e( o" chem cal reac$ t o!(7 a( they tra'el "rom the co..er to the al#m !#m electro)e - th ! the (ol#t o!. Th ( e!able( them to )o -or3 o! the e/ter!al c rc# t a!) .o-er the <ED. A!y t-o ) (( m lar metal( -o#l) -or3 a( elec$ tro)e(. Carbo! ( o"te! #(e)* a!) a rece!t .#bl cat o! o#tl !e( the co!(tr#ct o! o" a .o-er"#l al#m !#m: carbo! battery.4 The (alt act(

a( a co!)#ctor* carry !2 char2e thro#2h the (ol#t o!. A!yth !2 co#l) (er'e a(
a co!)#ctor* (#ch a( ' !e2ar* "r# t* ) ll . c3le(* or the h#ma! bo)y5 altho#2h 2e!erally the h 2her

. e=oelectr c b#==er may .ro' )e a more m.re(( 'e re(#lt* b#== !2 -he! the " !al c#. ( " lle). St#)e!t( may !'e(t 2ate -hat ha..e!( to the br 2ht!e(( o" the <ED a!) the c#rre!t -he! they a)):remo'e c#.( or to#ch the electro)e( to2ether. Ho- )oe( the c#rre!t cha!2e -he! they a)) the <ED !to the c rc# tC They ca! al(o mea(#re the 'olta2e a!) c#rre!t .ro)#ce) by cell( !) ' )#ally a!) the c rc# t a( a -hole to !'e(t $ 2ate E rcho"" 4( la-( a!) calc#late the .o-er .ro)#ce) by the c rc# t. 5hat4( Fo !2 +!C Each c#. ( a ( m.le electrochem cal cell - th o.$ erat !2 'olta2e o" abo#t G0.5 V a!) c#rre!t o" G1 mA. 5he! the (alt-ater cell( are .#t ! (er e(* they act l 3e a 'olta c . leH the !) ' )#al

'olta2e( a)) to2ether (o that "o#r ! (er e( ha'e a 'olta2e o" G2 V. The <ED l 2ht( 6or the b#==er (o#!)(7 o!ly -he! t( thre(h$ ol) 'olta2e ha( bee! reache) 6aro#!) 1$2 V7. The m ! m#m !#mber o" c#.( ( 2e!erally aro#!) "o#r. To#ch !2 the co..er a!) al#m !#m to2ether - ll (hort o#t the cell* a!) the <ED - ll !ot l 2ht. 5he! the b#==er ( a))e) !to the c rc# t* the c#r$ re!t thro#2h the cell( - ll )ro. beca#(e the o'erall re( (ta!ce ha( bee! !crea(e). Th ( c#rre!t )ro. ca! be #(e) to calc#late the re( (ta!ce o" the c rc# t t(el"* - tho#t the <ED* lea) !2 to a ) (c#(( o! o" real bat$ ter e( a!) !ter!al re( (ta!ce. ,ote that ! or)er to mea(#re c#rre!t a!) 'olta2e acro(( a re( (tor* yo# m#(t mea(#re them ( m#lta!e$ o#(ly. Th#(* yo# - ll !ee) t-o m#lt meter(. Electrochem (try E/.lorat o!( I! a)) t o! to the .hy( c( o" c rc# t(* (t#)e!t( - ll rea) ly ) (co'er that there ( m#ch to be e/.lore) ! the electrochem (try o" the cell. I Do yo# !ot ce a!yth !2 ha..e! !2 at the elec$ tro)e(C
I 5hat ha..e!( " -e (t r the (ol#t o! or a)) (altC

I 5hat ha..e!( to the c#rre!t " -e a)) a l ttle bleachC I 5hat " -e a)) ' !e2ar* ba3 !2 (o)a* or "r# t J# ceC I 5hat )o -e !ot ce " -e let the c rc# t ( t o'er$ ! 2ht or "or (e'eral )ay(C I 5hat " -e #(e al#m !#m "or both electro)e(C

<ED. +/y2e! 6) ((ol'e) ! the -ater7 ( reduced 6 by tho(e electro!(9 +2 K 2H2+ K 4eI 4+HI* E 0 L 0.82 V. ? 617 Th ( "orm( hy)ro/ )e 6+HI7 ! the re2 o! !ear the electro)e. Yo# - ll !ot ce that the c#rre!t )ro.( o'er t me. +'er t me* the !arro- re2 o! o" (ol#t o! !ear the co..er r#!( o#t o" o/y2e!H (t rr !2 ca! hel. re' 'e the cell by br !2 !2 "re(h o/y2e! !to th ( area. The cell c#rre!t )ecrea(e( o'er lo!2 .er o)( o" t me beca#(e the metal( become coate) - th o/ )e( a!) other by.ro)#ct(. The 'olta2e* ho-e'er* rema !( co!(ta!t a( t4( a""ecte) .r mar ly by the electro!e2a$ t ' ty o" the metal(* -h ch )oe( !ot cha!2e.
At the a!o)e* the al#m !#m "o l ( o/ ) =e)D t

cell at !e#tral .H ?. ,ot ce that the co..er )oe(!4t act#ally .art c .ate ! the cell chem (tryDelectro!( ( m.ly .a(( thro#2h t* allo- !2 the re)#ct o! o" o/y2e!. 8a!y (t#)e!t( a(3 -hy the electro!( tra'el "rom co..er to al#m !#m - th ! the (alt-ater (ol#t o!* e(.ec ally -he! co..er ( more electro!e2at 'e. 5hy )o!4t the react o!( 2o the other -ay aro#!)C +!e co#l) ea( ly -r te a (er e( o" hal"$react o!( "or the o/ $ )at o! o" co..er !(tea)D ! "act* -he! the co..er ( le"t to ( t ! a r* t - ll t#r! re)) (h )#e to the "orma$ t o! o" c#.ro#( o/ )e 6C#207. So* t ca! 6a!) (7 ea( ly
o/ ) =e). Ho-e'er* -he! the co..er ( a((emble) !to
!et
0

the 0 !et battery cell* the o/ )at o! o" al#m !#m 6E

L ;.12 V7 by o/y2e! ( more e!er2et cally "a'orable tha! the o/ )at o! o" co..er metal to C#20 6E !et L 2 L 0.48 V7* 1 (o t4( al#m !#m !#m "o l ( le"t ! Al K ;+HI the cell o'er! 2ht* t 2et( th !!er 6a( t Al6+H7;6S7 K ;eI * E ( o/ ) =e)7 a!) coate) - th -h te 0 L 2.;0 V .8 627 al#m !#m hy)ro/ )e. The al#m !#m a!) %#t the hy)ro/ )e are hy)ro/ )e o!( ! EM. 627 are !ot co!(#me) by tho(e create) ! EM. th ( react o! to 617Dthat4( -here .ro)#ce al#m !#m the (alt ( hy)ro/ )e* m.orta!t. So) #m Al6+H7;6S7* a -h te 6,aK7 o!( m#(t "lo- to the le"t to .rec . tate o" Al;K. !e#tral$ S m larly* (o)a =e the +HI o!( ca!( a!) .ro)#ce) at the al#m !#m boat( co..er electro)e 6(ee are eate! a-ay by 0 2. 17. S m larly* the (alt-ater ! the chlor !e 6ClI7 o!( ocea!* .ro)#c !2 mo'e to the r 2ht to Al;K. I" the al#m $ re.lace the +HI

#(e) #. ! EM. 627 6the +HI come( "rom "ree +HI o!( alrea)y .re(e!t ! the -ater7. The !et re(#lt ( electro!( mo' !2 to the r 2ht "rom co..er to al#m !#mDthat4( the o!ly role o" the (altN I" th ( ) )!4t ha..e!* the react o! -o#l) o!ly r#! "or a (hort t me a!) the! " ==le o#t a( char2e b# lt #. at the electro)e(. Comb ! !2 EM(. 617 a!) 627 (to ch ometr cal ly 2 'e( the "ollo- !2 eM#at o! "or the cell react o!9

that ( .r mar ly o/ ) =e) !(tea). Some o" the co..er may al(o be o/ ) =e)Dyo# may (ee re) 6C#207 a!) blac3 6C#+7 )e.o( t( o! the co..er. Fo !2 0#rtherO Bubbly stuff Yo# may !ot ce (mall b#bble( o! the al#m !#m metal )#r !2 cell o.erat o!. Th ( ( hy)ro2e! 2a(. Th ( come( "rom a! a)) t o!al corro( o! react o! that co!(#me( the al#m !#m b#t )oe(!4t co!tr b#te to the c#rre!t9 2HK K 2eI H2 E 0 L I0.41 V .P 647 So ! a)) t o! to EM. 6;7* a! eM#at o! "or the !o!$
.ro)#ct 'e corro( o! o" al#m10 !#m ca! be -r tte!.

(tro!2er (alt (ol#t o!(. The co!)#ct ' ty o" (alt-a$ ter ( at a ma/ m#m "or a 12@ (ol#t o! by -e 2ht. 5e #(e 2I 5@ -e 2ht (ol#t o!(* b#t e'e! trace amo#!t( o" (alt - ll )o. Try Al ; +2 ; H2+ 6 m Al6+H7;6S7* E!et ; 7 ;.12 4 V. 2 Th ( react o! (#mmar =e( the ba( c chem (try o" the

t - th ta. -aterD t - ll -or3* b#t the c#rre!t - ll be lo-. I!crea( !2 the amo#!t o" (alt !crea(e( the co!)#ct ' ty* b#t the rate o" react o! (
l m te) by the amo#!t o" o/y2e! ! the (ol#t o!. 0 1

Adding vinegar Act#ally* a cell ma)e e!t rely o" ' !e2ar -ater
6acet c ac )7 - ll -or3 K J#(t " !e ( !ce the H a!) ace$

Adding salt The c#rre!t )oe( !ot )e.e!) (tro!2ly o! the co!$ ce!trat o! o" (alt* )e(. te the !crea(e) co!)#ct ' ty "or

tateI o!( "rom the ) ((oc at o! o" the -ea3 ac ) ma3e the (ol#t o! co!)#ct 'e. A (M# rt o" ' !e2ar to yo#r (alt-ater cell - ll ma3e the <ED 2lobr 2hter. %#t )o!4t be "oole)D(t rr !2 the (ol#t o! )oe( the (ame th !2. &.o! (ettl !2* the .er"orma!ce o" the ' !e2ar: (alt cell ( 2e!erally com.arable to that o" the (alt-ater cell alo!e. Ho-e'er* yo#4ll .robably " !) that ' !e2ar:(alt cell( ma !ta ! the r c#rre!t "or a longer t me tha! (alt-a$ ter cell(. I" yo# lea'e a ' !e2ar:(alt cell o'er! 2ht* the (#r"ace o" the co..er - ll !ot be coate) - th a re)) (h o/ )e b#t (tay( (h !y a!) clea!. The acetate ! ' !e2ar te!)( to ) ((ol'e the c#.ro#( o/ )e coat !2 a( t "orm( by "orm !2 a com.le/ - th the C#6I7. Th ( allo-( bet$ ter co!tact - th the (ol#t o! a!) th#( better electro! tra!("er o'er t me. A)) t o!al )eta l( abo#t the role o" ' !e2ar ! the cell ca! be "o#!) at htt.9::---.e/o.!et:.a#l): (alt-ater. Adding bleach Yo# - ll " !) yo#4ll 2et a m#ch more (table a!) .o-er"#l cell " yo# a)) a tea(.oo! o" bleach to the (alt-ater 6or to .la ! -ater7 - th c#rre!t a!) 'olta2e aro#!) 10 mA a!) 1 V* re(.ect 'ely* - th o!ly the m#lt meter ! the c rc# t. So a bleach$.o-ere) cell .ro)#ce( abo#t 20 t me( a( m#ch .o-erN 5hy ( thatC 5he! bleach ( a))e)* the battery ( !o lo!2er a! a r batteryH !(tea) o" o/y2e! "rom the a r* (o) #m hy$
.ochor te 6,a+Cl7* the maJor co!(t t#te!t ! bleach*

the cell ca! hel. .hy( c( teacher( to a!(-er the r (t#$ )e!t(4 M#e(t o!(. Re"ere!ce( 1. E.<. < tta#er a!) Q.0. Coo.er* A8etal a r batter e(*B ! Handbook of Batteries and Fuel ells* e) te) by D. < !$ )e! 68cFra- H ll* ,e- Yor3* 1P847* ... ;0$1I;0$21. 2. D. RathJe! a!) P. Doherty* Square Wheels and !ther Easy"to"Build Hands"!n Science Activities 6E/.lorato$ r #m* Sa! 0ra!c (co* 20027* ..85. ;. 0 2#re co#rte(y o" 8ar3 He(.e!he )e. 4. 8. Tame= a!) Q.H. Y#* AAl#m !#mIa r battery*B #$ he%$ Educ$ 84* 1P;6A 6Dec. 200?7* or htt.9::---. e/o.!et:G.a#l):act ' t e(:AlA r%attery:ala r battery. html. 5. &he E'ploratoriu% Science Snackbook 6E/.lorator #m* Sa! 0ra!c (co* 1PP17* .. 5?$ 1* or o!l !e at htt.9::---. e/.lorator #m.e)#:(!ac3(:ha!)Rbattery.htm l. 6. +/ )at o! ( the lo(( o" electro!( at the a!o)e* a!) re$ )#ct o! ( the 2a ! o" electro!( at the catho)e. ?. Q.P. Hoare* A+/y2e!*B ! Standard (otentials in Aqueous Solution* I&PAC* e) te) by A.Q. %ar)* R. Par(o!(* a!) Q. Qor)a! 68arcel De33er* I!c.* ,e- Yor3* 1P857* ... 54I66. 8. S.$8 Par3* A%oro!* al#m !#m a!) (ca!) #m*B ! Stan" dard (otentials in Aqueous Solution* I&PAC* e) te) by A.Q. %ar)* R. Par(o!(* a!) Q. Qor)a! 68arcel De33er* I!c.* ,e- Yor3* 1P857* ... 566$580. P. P. ,. Ro((* AHy)ro2e!B ! Standard )eduction (oten" tials* I&PAC* e) te) by A.Q. %ar)* R. Par(o!(* a!) Q. Qor)a! 68arcel De33er* I!c.* ,e- Yor37* ... ;P$ 48. 7 ; m !or E0 . . * a!) hy.ochoro#( ac ) 6H+Cl7* a co!(t t#e!t are

54?
THE PHYSICS TEACHER UVol. 46* December 2008

re)#ce). The "#ll eM#at o!( "or th ( cell ca! be "o#!) o!l !e. Th ( cell .ote!t al 6;.P; V7 ( M# te a b t h 2her tha! the ;.12 V "or the (alt-ater battery

10. Al ;H2+
m Al6+H ; H2 2

1 8P V

PACS co)e(9 01.50.8 y* 41.00.00

54?
THE PHYSICS TEACHER UVol. 46* December 2008

SEM. 6;7T. So th ( react o! .rocee)( more ra. )ly* 2e!$ erat !2 more electro!( .er #! t t me a!) th#( 2reater c#rre!t. 5e al(o ob(er'e) a h 2her 'olta2e. A!other !) cat o! that the react o! .rocee)( more ra. )ly "or the bleach battery ( the (tr 3 !2 ab#!)a!ce o" -h te "l#""y .art c#late a( the cell ( le"t o'er t meDth ( ( Al6+H7;6S7.
A)) t o!al )eta l( abo#t the role o" bleach ! the

cell ca! be "o#!) at htt.9::---.e/o.!et:.a#l): (alt-ater. I! co!cl#( o!* the (alt-ater al#m !#m:a r battery ( a r ch act ' ty comb ! !2 eleme!t( o" chem (try a!) .hy( c(. &!)er(ta!) !2 (ome o" the chem (try beh !)

Stephanie V. Chasteen has a PhD in condensed matter physics is currently a science education postdoctoral fellow at CU in Boulder. She was previously a postdoc at the Teacher Institute at the E ploratorium in San !rancisco. Pu"lications# activities and "lo$ at http%&&www. e o.net&'drsteph. She is also the dau$hter of (. Dennis Chasteeen. N. Dennis Chasteen is a professor emeritus of physical chemistry whose primary wor) has "een in the area of iron transport and stora$e. Paul Doherty has a PhD in physics from *IT and is staff scientist at the E ploratorium. +e has written do,ens of articles and "oo)s on teachin$ physics. +e has received the (ST-.s !araday award for e cellence as a science communicator. -ctivities at http%&&www.e o.net&'pauld.