Thermochemistry Lab

How is it possible for a lemon to

power an LED?
The Experiment
 Procedure
1. First gather four lemons, four galvanized zinc nails, and four copper wires about the same size of the
nails. You will also need five alligator wires and a working LED.
2. Next cut two slits in each lemon relatively close together lemon in two different spots.
3. Insert one strip of copper wire in one slit and a zinc nail in the other slit. Repeat this step for each of
the lemons.
4. Next place each lemon in a square shape.
5. Then take you alligator clips and attach one end to a copper wire and the other end to the next
lemon’s zinc nail.
6. Keep repeating this process until each terminal has an alligator clip on it and the circuit is complete.
You should have two ends of an alligator clip attached to nothing. You will connect your LED to these
two ends.
7. Connect the two remaining ends to each wire of the LED. If it does not light up check your circuit
again for any false connections or try a different LED.
Materials
Test #1 Results

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Test #2 Results

● In this test we substituted our lemons for vinegar to see if this acidic solution would
have more effect.
● This test proved to be more successful since this battery gave off around 4.2 volts.
The LED was bright and was sustained.
● We decided to go back to our lemons and see if we could alter an element in that
process.
Test #3 Results
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 How it works
When the copper and zinc react, it results in one of two processes
called oxidation, which is the loss of electrons, and reduction, which
is the gaining of electrons.

The electrode in which oxidation occurs is
negative and is called the anode. It's where
electrons are produced. Oxidation is a key
part in lighting the LED. At the anode of this
reaction, metallic zinc is oxidized, and enters
the acidic solution as Zn2+ ions.
Zn → Zn2+ + 2e-.
The electrode where reduction takes place is
positive and is called the cathode. It is where
electrons are used. At the copper cathode,
copper ions are reduced to form molecular
copper.
Cu^2++ 2e- → Cu (s)
How it works..(continued)

● By converting chemical energy into electrical energy, the lemon battery

produces electricity.

● Due to the acidity of the lemon, when the two electrodes, copper and zinc,
are inside the lemon, both electrodes on the zinc and copper produce
individual electrons.

● The anode and cathode generate a flow of electrons which in reality is the
voltage the lemon battery puts out.
On The Molecular Level

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Conclusion

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Thank you for listening!