Tomato Battery

http://www.elperfecto.com/2009/11/27/tomato-battery/

Tomato as the electrolyte helps release electrons from metal, producing power. The acid in the tomatoes is what makes the chemical reaction work.

This is basic chemistry, a chemical reaction between metals, acid, and salt, producing metal oxides (in this case zinc oxide and copper oxide) and hydrogen gas (H2).

Power is used to light an LED, a buzzer (or piezoelectric speaker), and helps recharge a AAA rechargeable battery.

What happens to this battery several days later? Details on how to make a tomato battery with more videos and updates at http://www.elperfecto.com/2009/11/27/tomato-battery/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• battery
• potato
• tomato
• electrolyte
• generate
• electricity
• chemistry
• redox
• oxide
• hydrogen

[MSReaperProductions]

Would Lemons work for this??

[field16]

@MSReaperProductions If you introduce any acid between two different metals, you will get electricity. Lemons have stronger acid than tomatoes (as documented on my web page), so yes... Lemons FTW.

[benjy0511]

if i were to build a battery to move a model mini car, would this tomato battery sufficient to do so?

[field16]

@benjy0511 This battery chemistry is weak, so if you wanted to be ambitious and power an electric motor, you might do so, but would have to scale up the size of the battery. More, thin sheets of metal to increase the voltage... and more sheets of metal in parallel to increase the current. Perhaps use super capacitors to store energy from the battery, too, for when the motor needs the extra power. I like your idea, but a tough challenge.

[radionut63]

Im empressed, holy smoke, who needs batteries when you got Tomatoes..lol Great job, might try this myself. :)

[field16]

I'm thinking of a home-made battery design using scraps that will power my hand held radio... kind of like simulating an emergency. If I pull it off, I'll make a video to share with you guys.

I like your radio videos, especially the ones on packet radio.

[radionut63]

That i would love to see... And thanks for the comments about my packet vids, i not done yet, i still have a couple more to load yet. all the best.

[field16]

Hmm, sorry the video stopped playing for you. I clicked on the time link generated in your comments and it played on my computer. Maybe you could click on the time link created in your comments... if that doesn't work, maybe toggle between the HD and regular playback quality. Thanks for your feedback.

[rsn2755]

Looks like a great video but it keeps stopping at 3:15 for me wish I could watch the whole thing.

[field16]

Thank you. :-)