Question

For this activity you will need a fresh lemon, a metal paper clip and a small piece of copper wire. You may use different metals as long as the two metal pieces used are different. Insert the two pieces of metal into the lemon through the rind. The metal should not be touching but close enough for your tongue to touch both. Describe what happens when you touch both metal pieces with your tongue. This cell is described further in your book. Write a description of your actions and observations in the usual three paragraph format complete with picture.

Answer 1

Hey there!

This is an experiment where you could make a small clock battery of your own!

A battery normally works in general when two different metal rods are placed in an acid. Reduction takes place on one metal rod and oxidation takes place on the other. When you place two metal strips inside the lemon, the citric acid's free electrons flows through the cathode metal strip. To complete the circuit you will need to put these terminals into a small clock or an LED.

Now, in other means if you place your tongue in contact with the metal strips you will feel a zap on the edge of your tongue. This zap is caused by the flow of electrons through your tongue. The current flow causes the tongue to zap( you would feel a small sour, tingling sensation).

The current flows from the anode(+ve terminal) to the cathode (-ve terminal). The process in which the electrons are given out is called reduction and it takes place in cathode, and hence the negative terminal. The anode accepts the electrons which flow though the tongue when made in contact (the oxidation terminal). If you connect one metal piece as copper, then it would be the anode (+ve terminal)