Could you suggest materials that could be used to make a batterythat will produc

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Hi Robobrooke, To make a battery that's 1 volt (or in the example I'm giving youwhich is just around 1 volt) you can use a lemon, zinc andcopper. Note that the half reactions of copper and zinc and theirpotentials are: Cu2+(aq) + 2e- -->Cu(s)    E = 0.34 V Zn2+(aq) + 2e- ->Zn(s)      E = -0.76 V Knowing that Ecell = Eoxidation +Ereduction we can use this to make a battery with arounda 1.1 volt potential. However looking at those half reactions they are both reductionreactions because they are both gaining electrons, but just flipthe zinc over: Zn(s) -> Zn2+(aq) +2e-   E = 0.76 V Note that flipping the reaction reverses the sign of the halfreaction potential. Therefore you two reactions are now: Cu2+(aq) + 2e- -->Cu(s)    E = 0.34 V Zn(s) -> Zn2+(aq) +2e-   E = 0.76 V Adding the reactions together: Cu2+(aq) + Zn(s) --> Cu(s)+ Zn2+(aq) Then we get a Ecell potential of 0.34 V + 0.76 V = 1.1V You can try all different kinds of half reactions to get closer to1 volt, but that's the easiest and most straightforward one, if youhave a chemistry book, there should be a table in the index thathas half reaction potentials which you can use. You basically need two different metals and an electrolyte (usuallyacid) for the most basic battery. Hope that helps! -llg

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