The Saltwater Battery: Laboratory Work No. 3

Joyce Ann R.
Cañaveral
12 STEM 2
Laboratory Work No. 3

The Saltwater Battery
Overview:
Have you ever wondered how your cell phone or laptop
keeps running once you unplug it? Sure, it is the battery that
makes your portable electronics work, but how exactly does
a battery do that, and from where does the electricity come?
Generally, in a battery chemical energy is converted into
electrical energy. In fact, many different types of batteries
exist that are all based on a different set of chemical
reactions. In this activity, you will explore a special battery
variant called the metal air battery—specifically, a zinc-air
battery, sometimes also called a saltwater battery.
Objectives:
 Analyze the existence of electric potential in day-to-
day life using the saltwater battery.
 Develop critical thinking skills in analyzing each Figure 1: A saltwater battery using zinc and copper
problem and data gathering by constructing a saltwater battery.

 Manifest intelligence in analyzing the applications of electric potential in the household,
commercial, industrial, and agricultural industry through conclusion.
Materials:
 Nonmetallic cup (Styrofoam, paper, or  Copper (household electric wire or water
plastic work well) pipe)
 Salt  Zinc (galvanized nails)
 Water  Alligator clips
 Vinegar  Small LED bulb
 Bleach  Digital Multimeter “Tester”
(galvanometer and voltmeter)
Procedure:
1. Gather your materials. For this battery, you'll need one plastic cup (6 to 8 ounces), two 3/4-inch-
wide strips of metal that are taller than the cup, and one tablespoon (14.79 ml) of salt. Each strip must
be a different type of metal, but you can choose which type: zinc, aluminum, and copper are popular
choices. In addition, you'll need a pair of scissors, a voltage meter, and 2 electrical lead wires with
alligator clips at both ends.
 A variation on this recipe is to add one teaspoon (4.93 ml) of salt, one teaspoon (4.93 ml) of
vinegar, and a few drops of bleach to the water instead of one tablespoon (14.79 ml) of salt. If
you choose this variation, be careful, as bleach is a hazardous chemical.
 Metal strips, electrical lead wires, and voltage meters are available at hardware stores. You
should also be able to find lead wires at shops that sell electrical components.
2. Fill a plastic cup 3/4-full with water. Note that the cup doesn't absolutely have to be plastic. It just
has to be non-metallic. Styrofoam and paper cups will also work.
3. Add 1 tablespoon (14.79 ml) of salt to the water and stir. It's the same process if you decide to
follow the salt, vinegar, and bleach variation.
4. Place the two metal strips into the cup. Ensure that the strips are touching the saltwater and
extending past the cup's rim. If the strips are too short, bend them so that they hang off the cup's rim
and dip into the solution.
5. Attach the lead wires to the metal strips. Attach one lead wire to one metal strip using an
alligator clip. Then, attach a different lead wire to the other metal strip, again using the alligator clip.
 Be careful not to let the alligator clips touch the water.
 It doesn't matter which color attaches to which strip.
6. Test the battery. Following the instructions that come with your voltage meter, connect a lead wire
from each metal strip to the voltage meter. The meter should read your battery's voltage at roughly
3/4 of a volt.
Observations:
1. What is the science behind a salt water battery? (5 pts.)
—The science behind a salt water battery is the oxidation reaction, it produces electricity
which is used to power a battery. And to make an oxidation process, combine two metals and
a salty liquid. If one metal oxidizes, it loses electrons. When charging the battery, sodium is
removed from the seawater, and the extracted sodium is discharged with oxygen dissolved in
the seawater, serving as oxidants to generate electricity.
2. Can we run a fan with saltwater? (5pts)

— As I conduct this experiment when I tried to test if the mini fan will run in saltwater, As
soon as the wires are attached to the fan module, the mini fan begins working. So I can say
yes, we can run fan with saltwater.
3. How can I relate homemade batteries to modern technology? (5pts.)

— I can say that the homemade batteries are helpful to save our electricity at home. But it
is only an alternative, because there are some technologies that does not work using salt
battery because modern battery technology is simply a slightly smaller and more efficient
version of what the homemade battery can.
4. Is it dangerous to make a homemade battery? (5pts.)

—No, this is a low DC current like a battery. You could still touch the battery without
being hurt.
Conclusion:
A. What can you conclude about the saltwater battery activity? (5pts.)
— In my conclusion, why salt water battery works is because one of the main
components of a battery is an electrolyte. Electrolytes can be found in sodium ions, which is
in salt. And we can’t use glass when conducting this experiment because metals should be
used to make a homemade battery. And glass is not a conductor of electricity.
References:
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Homemade-Battery
Attach at least 1 picture below in order to show a PROOF/EVIDENCE while performing the activity.

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Joyce Ann R.

Laboratory Work No. 3

problem and data gathering by constructing a saltwater battery.

2. Can we run a fan with saltwater? (5pts)

3. How can I relate homemade batteries to modern technology? (5pts.)

4. Is it dangerous to make a homemade battery? (5pts.)

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