Chemistry of a Simple homemade battery

[Xyius]

I want to make a simple home made battery. I am just starting to do experiments at home and I have read you can make a simple battery from coins like pennies and nickles. In between the coins would be a wet paper towel soaked in salt water which acts as the electrolyte between the two coins. I know that the current is produced by oxidation reduction reactions, the problem is I do not remember enough Chemistry to go through the exact process! (Which I hope to fix soon) If someone would be able to go through the reactions of this home made simple battery that would be great! I like to completely understand something scientifically before doing it experimentally.

Thanks!
~Matt

 

[Borek]

I think you can safely start with wiki articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniell_cell

--