A Voltaic Pile Battery

A voltaic pile battery. This type of battery was the first chemical battery and was invented by Alessandro Volta in 1791. This battery consists of two different metals. Here copper United States pennies manufactured before 1982 were used and the source of Zinc was zinc coated washers. Cotton paper is placed between the coins and wetted with an acid. In this experiment the acid used was 5% acetic acid from household vinegar. The vinegar is the electrolyte
Unlike the Leyden jar, the voltaic pile produces a continuous electricity and stable current. The order of the stack is copper, zinc and then paper. This pattern is repeated throughout the battery.

Add to Lightbox Download

Filename: K16ZnCubattery-44.jpg
Copyright: Ted Kinsman / Science Source Inc.
Image Size: 4655x3840 / 10.4MB; science physics electric electrical electricity energy electrical battery history historic historical important notable well-known invention voltaic pile voltaic battery first electric battery electric battery battery continuous electric current electric current electrodes conductivity alessandro giuseppe antonio anastasio gerolamo umberto alessandro volta a. volta volta italian european invention demo demonstration current copper zinc Cu Zn experiment meter volt meter
Contained in galleries: science

A voltaic pile battery. This type of battery was the first chemical battery and was invented by Alessandro Volta in 1791. This battery consists of two different metals. Here copper United States pennies manufactured before 1982 were used and the source of Zinc was zinc coated washers. Cotton paper is placed between the coins and wetted with an acid. In this experiment the acid used was 5% acetic acid from household vinegar. The vinegar is the electrolyte<br />
Unlike the Leyden jar, the voltaic pile produces a continuous electricity and stable current. The order of the stack is copper, zinc and then paper. This pattern is repeated throughout the battery.