analytics

Friday, June 1, 2012

Acid-Base Voltage

There is acid in the left beaker (HCL) and a base in the right (NaOH) and a tube connecting the two containers. The tube is filled with the mixing solutions so there is a liquid connection from the left glass to the right beaker. And with the red and black electrodes I'm measuring a voltage of .2V.
   I believe the principle is that there is a net positive charge moving from the left glass to the right beaker which pulls electrons through the wire and produces a voltage. The problem is the resistance of the whole circuit is up towards a million ohms so there is not much current flowing at that voltage. I would like to find some acids and bases that conduct electricity much better so there will be more current.
   Usually in a battery the principle of it's action is much different, you have two different metals dissolving and plating in acid in both beakers. Actually, to me it is surprising that Google didn't even have results for basic queries like what acid conducts electricity the best which naturally arises from making a battery by this principle. So I think I might be the first one to notice this effect.

No comments:

Post a Comment