Making a voltaic pile with Euro coins

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the feasibility of creating a voltaic pile using Euro coins, specifically 1€ and 50c coins, separated by tissue soaked in sea salt. Participants concluded that the composition of the coins, primarily copper and steel, is not ideal for generating significant voltage due to poor ion mobility in the chosen electrolyte. Alternatives like copper and iron nails in lemon juice were suggested as more effective methods for producing voltage. The discussion also highlighted the importance of using appropriate electrolytes and the role of ion mobility in achieving better current output.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of voltaic cells and electrochemistry
  • Knowledge of metal compositions, specifically Euro coins
  • Familiarity with electrolytes and their role in electrochemical reactions
  • Basic principles of the Nernst equation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research effective electrolytes for voltaic cells, focusing on brine solutions
  • Learn about the Nernst equation and its application in electrochemistry
  • Explore alternative materials for constructing voltaic piles, such as graphite and zinc
  • Investigate the historical context and construction of the original Volta pile
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This discussion is beneficial for hobbyists, educators, and students interested in electrochemistry, DIY electronics enthusiasts, and anyone exploring alternative energy sources using common materials.

cnidocyte
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Can it be done? I tried stacking cells made with 1€ coins + 50c coins separated by some tissue soaked in sea salt but didn't measure any voltage with the multimeter.

The problem is every coin except the brown ones consist mainly of copper and the brown ones are steel plated with copper. Heres the composition of Euro coins:

1c, 2c and 5c: Copper plated steel
10c, 20c and 50c: 89% copper, 5% aluminium, 5% zinc, 1% tin
Centre of 1€ and ring of 2€: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Centre of 2€ and ring of 1€: 75% copper, 20% zinc, 5% nickel

Steel is mainly iron but the brown coins are plated with silver so it doesn't matter what the core is made of does it? My inspiration for making a voltaic pile came after watching an episode of Breaking Bad where the battery of their caravan goes dead out in the desert and they manage to get it started with a voltaic pile made from change. You'd probably need a pile the height of a house to get 12V but I like the idea of being able to produce voltage with coins all the same.
 
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The problem, as I understand it, has nothing to do with the composition of your coin electrodes, but rather with the connections between each cell and the solutions used for each half reaction. You can get some respectable voltages with those metals but you also need solutions of the corresponding ions. Sea salt is just about the poorest choice!
 
It is possible to get decent voltage just from two nails (copper/iron) put into a lemon. My bet is that € coins are a bad choice, I would first throw away those two colored. Note that it doesn't matter what is inside, what matters is what is in contact with the electrolyte - so even if there is iron inside, but plated with copper, this still counts as copper electrode.

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I have found that graphite (very thick mechanical pencil lead) and zn work pretty well as electrodes.

Salt water can work as an electrolyte but I immersed the electrodes in a container full of it. It is not clear to me that you will get much ion mobility in just wet paper.
 
Original Volta pile was made with pieces of metal separated by cloth soaked in brine. Ion mobility is not that important when you need just voltage, but obviously high internal resistance will not let you get a decent current.

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Wait, how can a voltaic cell work on simple brine if one of the reactants in the net ionic equation is an ion of an electrode metal?
 
Ask Volta :wink:

When there no ions potential of the half cell (as given by the Nernst equation) is infinite. That's a pretty strong impulse to oxidize some of the metal in the presence of any (even weak) oxidizing agent.

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OH! I remember Nernst now! It will make a voltage, but a terribly weak one. Thanks.
 

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