Bohol Wisdom School

High School Department

S.Y. 2016-2017

Investigatory Project
Science 7

MAKING ELECTRICITY
USING VINEGAR
Submitted by:
Name: Group 4
Year/Sec: Grade 7- Quartz
Submitted to:
Jeanna Idul. RN

Abstract

Battery or more precisely, a cell is a device

in which reaction between two substances can
be made to occur in such a way that some of
the chemical energy is converted to useful
electricity. Since its invention, the battery has
become the most common power source for
many households and industrial applications.
There are so many ways to construct a
battery as well as ways to control its
generated output.
This Vinegar Battery is a battery that is
constructed out from simple components.
Adding the vinegar with a strip of copper wire
and zinc forms a simple battery. Low
amperage devices, such as digital clock,
calculator and small bulb can be easily
supplied by this battery. Another good thing
about this battery is that it is absolutely
environmental friendly and it is much cheaper
than the other types of battery. It does not

contain any toxic that is hazardous and

dangerous to humans health and it is very
easy to construct. And most specially, it does
not have any effect in the ozone layers like
the fossil fuels do.
It is considered as a renewable source of
energy because it can be naturaly
replenished.

Introduction

This homemade vinegar battery is based on

two different metals suspended in an acid
solution. Produce electricity from vinegar,
which acts as the electrolyte. Electricity is
generated by reaction of two different metals
(the electrodes) with the vinegar (the
electrolyte). So you can just place two
different kinds of metal in a conducting
solution and thats It you get a battery!

Background of the study

This is just a really fun science project and easy to

do

Statement of the Problem

We need to power up the LED light by putting the copper

nail (+) and the zinc nail (-) and creating the electric
current

Hypothesis

We need to use the plastic cups, nails, copper

wire, and vinegar so that we can generate
enough electricity to power up the LED light

Significance of the Study

This method only works with red or white

vinegar although you can use water and if u
have only few plastic cups then you will not
generate enough electricity to power up the
LED

Scope and limitation of the study

We need more than 4 to power up the LED

and we need COPPER wire and Zinc Nails only

Review of Related Literature

Youll need two different kinds of metal, for

example copper and zinc and some acid
liquid. The copper is the + and the zinc is the
- . Electrons travel from the - through the
electrolyte (acid) to the + and creates an
electric current

Methodology

Youll have to gather

A few plastic cups
A few zinc coated nails (or strips of
aluminum foil)
Some (old) copper wire
Vinegar
The copper wire you can get from for
example an old or new power cord. You can
do this with one, or in this case- 9 plastic
cups. Fill the plastic cups with vinegar.
Doesnt have to be the rim
If you stripped the copper wire from the
power cord, cut it in about 2 inch pieces
(about 5 cm.) and tie one end to a nail
If you have 9 cups, repeat this with 8 other
nails.

When youre done, put one end of a

copper wire in one cup, and the nail which is tied to
it in another cap.
Then take another nail and put in a new cup and its
copper wire with the nail from the first one. Dont
let the metals touch each other (it wont
electrocute you if it happens, there is hardly
enough current to produce any sparks).
Serial battery for more power!
Youre now basically wiring a serial battery. Every
cap with a nail and copper wire is one vinegar
battery! So now if youve done that, your battery is
reading for use. So the first cap has a nail and the
last one a copper wire.
If you have a multimeter, hook it up to see how
many volts youre getting. Now, mine showed a
voltage of around 4 volts.

Not enough to run your fridge with it unfortunately,

but I found a LED somewhere from an old garden
light and hooked it up.
Its still burning after 4 days!
You can try making diy batteries with all kinds of
stuff, I got 0.5 volts from buttermilk and icetea.
Salt water also works. If you connect a Joule Thief
to it you might actually charge a battery with this
one!

Conclusion

Once the Vinegar Battery is connected to the LED, you

create a complete or closed circuit. As the electrons
pass through the LED, the electrical energy excites atoms
inside it and they emit a specific wavelength of color as
they fall back to a lower energy level. You see it as a
lighted LED. The electrons pass continuously one way
through all of the components unless the circuit is
broken or opened. Because an LED needs a specific
direction of electrons passing through it to glow and you
happen to put the legs into the battery backwards, it
wont light up. Just reversing the wells the legs are in
makes it all good, the flow is right, and youre rewarded
with a glowing LED.

Recommendation

Only use zinc nails and copper wire and it

might work better with red or white vinegar

References

http://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/
Science Book

Pictorials