Question: Can You Make a Battery Out of a Potato?

Summary: In this experiment, a potato is used to create an electrochemical battery, in which chemical energy is converted to electrical energy through spontaneous electron transfer. The energy created is enough to power a digital clock.

Materials Needed:

(Any of The Materials Highlighted in Blue are Clickable Links for Purchasing)

2 Medium Potatoes

2 Cans of Soda

2 Oranges

2 Small Grapefruit

1 Potato Clock Kit  

Pen and Paper for Taking Notes

Project Procedure:

1. Follow the instructions included with the kit to set up the experiment. Place the potatoes in the two receptacles and observe the effect when connected as instructed.
2. Repeat the set-up process using the 2 cans of soda, the 2 oranges and the 2 grapefruit. Observe and record the effect when using these different items as a buffer during the electron transfer.
3. Record a hypothesis about what is happening during this experiment.