Horrible Science: Potato power

Batteries are stores of chemical energy.

Many devices such as televisions, computers, remote controls, watches and games consoles need electricity to work.

Batteries help to store chemical energy which can be changed to electrical energy.

But did you know you can make batteries from potatoes?

A potato can be used as a battery when certain metals react with the acid inside the potato.

During this reaction, chemical energy is turned into electrical energy.

The potato becomes an electrochemical battery.

As well as wires, two different metals are needed:

• Zinc for the anode which produces electrons when it comes into contact with acids in the potato.

A normal zinc coated nail inserted into the potato is ideal.

• Copper for the cathode which has a shortage of electrons.
  You could use 1p and 2p coins for this. Coins issued before 1992 have more copper in them.

As the copper has a shortage of electrons, electrons formed when the zinc reacts with the acid in the potato flow through the potato towards the copper cathode, completing the circuit and allowing electricity to flow through it.

Horrible Science fact

Not long after they were first introduced to the UK, people used to rub slices of potato on the soles of their feet to help try and cure colds.

They probably wouldn't have tasted very nice after that!