SIDE DISPLAY
Power to Go
Visitors observe an electrochemical cell constructed from a small
jar containing zinc and copper strips immersed in separate
solutions. The strips are connected to a motor that turns a small
fan.
OBJECTIVES:
Visitors observe that chemical reactions can produce electricity.
They infer that electrically charged particles exist in solutions and
they make a connection between chemistry and common batteries.
SCIENCE TOPICS
PROCESS SKILLS
VOCABULARY
Electrochemistry
Observing
Atom
Electricity
Inferring
Chemical Reaction
Chemical Reaction
Gas
Properties of Ions
Electrochemical
Electron
Ion
Solution
Unit 2 Chemical Reactions
Experiencing Chemistry ©1997 OMSI
U2.85
Power to Go
Watch a chemical reaction make electricity.
Please explore this display with your eyes only.
How does the fan turn?
The fan is connected to a small motor that is powered by
electricity from a chemical reaction.
What gives it the power to go?
The zinc reacts with the sodium sulfate solution, releasing
free electrons. These electrons move through the wire and
the fan motor to the copper rod. Ions in both solutions
complete the electrical circuit. The chemical reactions
produce enough electricity to power the fan motor.
What else is inside the jar?
If you look very carefully, you may see tiny bubbles of
hydrogen (H2) gas coming off the zinc.
©1997 OMSI
Side Display: Power to Go
See Materials Prep
for more details
Operating Guide
(with amounts to have on hand)

Small baby-food jars (or small beakers) (keep five on hand)

One-holed stoppers (size 7) (keep five on hand)

Zinc foil strips 6 in. long (15 cm) (keep several on hand)

Copper foil strips 6 in. long (15 cm) (keep several on hand)

One spool of dialysis tubing

Wire leads with alligator clips

One small motor/fan, similar to those in toy construction sets

One clamp and ringstand

1.0M CuSO4 (copper sulfate) solution (500 ml reserve)

0.5M Na2SO4 (sodium sulfate) solution (500 ml reserve)

Steel wool (keep three to four pieces on hand)

Plastic pipette

Resealable plastic sandwich bags (keep four boxes on hand)
Setup/Takedown Procedures
 Clamp the motor to the ring stand so that the fan rotates freely.
 Cut the metal strips to fit the jars, allowing 1 in. extra (total length
approximately 6 in.). Store the metal in resealable plastic sandwich
bags labeled “Copper” and “Zinc,” respectively.
 Cut the dialysis tubing (6 in.) and hold under water until flexible. Tie a
knot in the bottom to make a bag. Store in labeled reseal able plastic
sandwich bag.
 Hold a dialysis bag under water until it’s flexible.
 Place the dialysis bag in a jar.
 Use the pipette to partially fill bag with CuSO4 (copper sulfate)
solution.
 Insert a shiny copper metal strip and fill the rest of the bag with
CuSO4 solution.
 Insert the clean zinc strip into the jar.
 Fill the jar with Na2SO4 (sodium sulfate) solution.
 Insert a stopper so the metal strips and dialysis bag are held in place.
 Connect the metal strips to the motor using wire leads with alligator
clips.
Unit 1 The Nature of Matter
Experiencing Chemistry ©1997 OMSI
U1.87
Side Display: Power to Go
Operating Guide
 Remove the metal strips; clean and store them in resealable plastic
sandwich bags.
 Discard all solutions in sink.
 Rinse the dialysis tubing and place it into a resealable plastic
sandwich bag.
 Rinse the jars and stoppers.
◊
Cu (copper) is reduced at the cathode (-); Zn (zinc) is oxidized at the
anode (+) (see picture).
◊
Zinc is an electron source. The length of the zinc strips is important; it
should be the same as the length of the copper strips.
◊
Left over short strips that are in good condition can be used for “Build
A Battery.”
◊
Each baby-food jar produces approximately 1.5+ volts. Results will
vary with condition of metals and solution concentration.
◊
One baby-food jar will run the small motor for one hour or more.
◊
Stoppers need holes to let out H2 (hydrogen) gas and O2 (oxygen) gas
from electrolysis.
Six baby-food jars may be connected together in series to run a small
9-volt radio or toy with few movements.
This uses the same principle as the “Build A Battery” experiment,
except there is more voltage in this display.
Electrolysis is present in this display.
Compare different types of batteries:
Battery type
Used in
cathode (-)
anode (+)
dry cell
flashlight
graphite rod with MnO2 (manganese dioxide),
NH4CI (ammonium chloride) C paste
Zn (zinc) cup
alkaline
watch
MnO2 (manganese dioxide) + conductor
Zn (zinc) powder +KOH
lead
car
PbO2 (lead dioxide) in H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)
Pb (lead) in
H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)
U2.88
Unit 2 Chemical Reactions
Experiencing Chemistry ©1997 OMSI
Side Display: Power to Go
Operating Guide
CuSO4 (copper sulfate) and Na2SO4 (sodium sulfate) are hazardous
substances; follow handling and disposal instructions in Materials
Prep.
Consult Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for additional
information.
To prepare 1.0M CuSO4 (copper sulfate) solution:
 Wear protective eyewear, chemical safety gloves, and lab coat.
 Dissolve 125 g CuSO4  5H2O in 500 ml dH2O (deionized water).
To prepare 0.5 Na2SO4 (sodium sulfate) solution:
 Wear protective eyewear, chemical safety gloves, and lab coat.
 Dissolve 35.5 g Na2SO4 in 500 ml dH2O (deionized water).
Unit 1 The Nature of Matter
Experiencing Chemistry ©1997 OMSI
U1.89
U2.90
Unit 2 Chemical Reactions
Experiencing Chemistry ©1997 OMSI