Name

Period

Date

Carbon-Zinc Dry Cell "Battery" Lab

OBJECTIVE

• to use a chemical reaction to generate electricity

INFO

• zinc is the anode (positive)
• carbon rod is the cathode (negative)
• NH₄Cl & MnO₂ paste is electrolyte
• electrons flow through paste from zinc to carbon rod
• produces 1.5 volts

MATERIALS

• test tube, filter paper, light bulb
• MnO₂ powder, NH₄Cl solution
• carbon rod, zinc strip

PROCEDURE

1. Play Zn strip into test tube.
2. Place C rod in middle of filter paper.
3. Sprinkle a small amount of MnO₂ over the rod.
4. Roll the rod and MnO₂ into the filter paper.
5. Place the filter paper/rod/MnO₂ into the test tube.
6. About half fill the test tube with NH₄Cl solution.
7. Keep the Zn from touching the C rod.
8. Touch one bulb wire to the Zn, the other to the C rod.

CONCLUSION

• Valence electrons traveling from one atom to another, in a chemical reaction, lit up the light bulb.