A Silver-Cleaning Battery *
| Areas of Science |
Chemistry |
| Difficulty | |
| Time Required | Short (2-5 days) |
| Safety | Adult supervision required. |
*Note:
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If you want a Project Idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk (*) at the end of the title.
Abstract
You can take advantage of electrochemistry and make a battery to clean tarnished silverware without scrubbing. You should learn about how batteries work and study oxidation-reduction reactions so that you can explain how this process works. You'll need a pan large enough to hold the pieces of silverware, and deep enough to cover them in solution while boiling gently. Line the pan with aluminum foil, and place the silverware inside the pan, making sure that each piece touches the foil. Add water to cover the silverware, then add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda for each liter of water in the pan. Heat the pan on the stove until the water boils, then reduce the heat so that it boils gently. The tarnish (silver sulfide) gradually dissolves, producing silver (Ag+) and sulfide (S2−) ions in solution. Electrons are transferred from aluminum atoms (Al) to the silver ions, producing silver atoms (Ag) and aluminum ions (Al3+). The silverware is functioning as the positive pole of the battery, and the aluminum as the negative pole. The silver atoms plate out of solution on the silverware, and the sulfide ions form insoluble sulfides with various positive ions in the solution. What is common to all batteries? How do batteries differ? With help from an adult, design and build a battery and prove that it works by lighting a flashlight bulb or powering a small electric motor.Share your story with Science Buddies!
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Cite This Page
General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.MLA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
"A Silver-Cleaning Battery." Science Buddies,
28 July 2017,
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Chem_p029/chemistry/a-silver-cleaning-battery.
Accessed 12 Dec. 2019.
APA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
(2017, July 28).
A Silver-Cleaning Battery.
Retrieved from
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Chem_p029/chemistry/a-silver-cleaning-battery
Last edit date: 2017-07-28
Experimental Procedure
For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.If you want a Project Idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk (*) at the end of the title.
Share your story with Science Buddies!
Yes,
I Did This Project!
Please log in (or create a free account) to let us know how things went.
Ask an Expert
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