The electrical energy produced from chemical reactions

[longchair]

Hi there, new member here
(**TL,DR is available at the bottom of this post**)

As you may or may not know, if you were to put in a plate of zinc at one end and a plate of copper at the other, put them in an acid solution, electricity will be produced.
More of that stuff here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_battery

However, it doesn't necessarily have to be copper and zinc. You could use different metals (with different reactivity) including aluminum, lead, silver, etc;

After some experimentation, I found out that different combinations of metals produced different voltages and current, thus different power output as well.

But, do these different combinations of metals produce different amounts of total energy? Or is it that the total energy produce will be the same, and a lower power output results in the system lasting longer.

TL,DR
In the lemon battery (and most other metals), we can use different metals (with different re-activity) to generate electricity. Do all combinations result in the same total output of energy?

Thank you very much for your time
Any response will be appreciated

 

[SteamKing]

"After some experimentation, I found out that different combinations of metals produced different voltages and current, thus different power output as well."

Congratulations! You have re-discovered the electro-chemical series for metals.

 

[longchair]

Ok, sorry I guess I worded that wrong. It is obvious that this is true, so I apologize for that. I just wanted to point out that this indeed true, and that I have done some validation.
But does the total energy output differ anyways?
Thanks

 

[NascentOxygen]

Hi longchair,

The voltage is dependent upon the chemistries in the cell. The energy available is dependent on the quantities of the active constituents. A cell made with larger sheets of metal and more acid can deliver more energy.

 

[sardar]

.

Hello new member,

Thank you for your question. I can provide some insight into the electrical energy produced from chemical reactions.

Firstly, it is important to understand that the production of electricity from chemical reactions is a form of energy conversion. In this case, the chemical energy stored in the zinc and copper plates is converted into electrical energy. This process is known as an electrochemical reaction.

The specific combination of metals used in the lemon battery (or any other type of battery) affects the reaction and determines the voltage and current produced. As you mentioned, different combinations can result in different power outputs. This is because the reactivity of the metals influences the rate at which the electrochemical reaction occurs.

In terms of the total energy produced, it is important to note that the total energy output will be the same regardless of the combination of metals used. This is because energy is conserved, meaning it cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. So, while different combinations may produce varying power outputs, the total amount of energy produced will be constant.

I hope this answers your question. It is always fascinating to explore the different ways in which we can harness energy from chemical reactions. Thank you for sharing your experimentation and curiosity with us. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Best regards,