US one-cent coins after and including 1983 have a thin outer copper layer with a zinc center. Modern — Electrochemistry Chemistry Question
Problem Context
US one-cent coins after and including 1983 have a thin outer copper layer with a zinc center. Modern nickels have a thin nickel coating with a zinc core. Modern dimes are a nickel-copper alloy. Japanese 1¥ coins are made of aluminum. You have been given four pennies, three nickels, three dimes, two 1¥ coins, a voltage probe, and other materials. Design and carry out an experiment to create a battery with the greatest voltage, justifying your experimental results.
Give a brief description of your experimental plan.
Model Answer
Students had to figure out that stacking coins would lead to creating cells (a cell consisting of two differing coins in physical contact). Testing cells in stacks (known as voltaic piles, historically the first batteries) using the voltage meters gives a measure of the relatively voltage of each battery.
Data and Observations.
Model Answer
Sample Data:
pennies nickels dimes yen voltage (V)
4 3 0.178
3 2 0.007
2 1 0.003
2 3 0.007
1 2 0.007
4 3 0.012
4 3 0.261
3 2 0.055
2 1 0.002
3 2 0.398
2 1 0.339
Analysis and Conclusions. Describe your optimal battery and justify why this battery outperformed other possibilities.
Model Answer
The metal combination affects the voltage. The combination of pennies and yen make the best battery; the combination of nickels and dimes the worst. The number of coins also has an influence (for the pennies and nickels, pennies and dimes, and the pennies and yen) with the voltage increasing with the number of coins used.