Electrochemistry

What is electrochemistry?

• Electro: – Electricity

• Chemistry:– Science that studies changes in matter

• Electrochemistry:– Using chemical reactions to generate

electricity

The Potato Battery

• An electrochemistry example• Able to generate a maximum of 0.8 V of

electricity• The electrons travel from the copper wire to

the zinc coated nail

+ - 0.8

Problem: LCD clocks require a 1.5 V battery

• How could we generate more electricity?

• Connect multiple potatoes together!• Two types of circuits:– Parallel – Series

In Parallel

• All positive terminals are connected together and all negative terminals are connected together.

• Increases amperage, not voltage

In Series

• Every positive terminal is connected to a different negative terminal.

• Increases voltage, not amperage

• LCD clocks need 1.5 V of electricity• One potato battery generates 0.8 V of

electricity• How should we make our potato clock?

Photo CreditsElectrochemical Cell. Retrieved at http://sphs.spusd.net/apps/classes

/show_assignment.jsp?classREC_ID=180029&start=0&pff=1&showAll=true&show=1000

All about circuits. Potato battery. Retrieved at http://www. allaboutcircuits. com/vol_6/chpt_3/16.html