A remarkable source of electric current with Cobra SMARTsense

Principle

In this student experiment, a so-called "potato battery" is created. When two metal plates made of different materials (e.g., zinc and copper) are inserted into a potato, a measuring device can detect an electrical voltage between the two metals.

Tasks

1. Students build a galvanic cell using a potato and one zinc and one copper electrode.
2. Students measure the voltage generated by this cell using a voltage sensor (Cobra SMARTsense Voltage) and document the results.

Learning objectives

In this experiment, students gain insight into electrochemistry and learn the basics of how a battery is constructed. They understand that the measured voltage results from the difference in the standard electrode potentials of the metals used and that this can be predicted using the electrochemical series. They also learn that a potato contains electrolytes, which are essential for the functioning of a galvanic cell.

Benefits

• This experiment provides an easy and safe introduction to electrochemistry using non-hazardous materials.
• It is part of a complete set that covers all major curriculum topics in electrochemistry.
• Fast and simple experiment setup (experiment instructions and risk assessment available).