If you have one, a strip of copper will work better than just a penny. Galvanized nails have a zinc coating that is important to this experiment. [3] X Research source They can be found in any standard hardware or home improvement store. Aluminum foil can be substituted for the nail if you don’t have one. A voltmeter can be purchased at a hardware or home improvement store.
The acidity of the juice in a lemon makes it ideal for this sort of chemical reaction. It contains the solution of molecules necessary to carry electric current between the two metal ends of a battery. [4] X Research source
The metals need to be close to each other in order for the necessary chemical reaction to take place. [6] X Research source Be careful not to have the nail and penny touch within each lemon. If they touch, the battery will short circuit and you won’t get any voltage. Make sure the penny and the nail are deep enough to be in contact with the juice of the lemon.
If the voltage is very low, try moving the nail closer to the penny.
Adult supervision is strongly recommended, particularly when using the knife. Clean the penny with a light detergent to maintain a clean working surface. [7] X Research source If you have one, a lobster claw will do. Galvanized nails have a zinc coating that is important to this experiment[8] X Research source and can be found at a local hardware or home improvement store. Aluminum foil can be substituted for the nail if you don’t have one. You can link as many lemons together as you’d like to increase the voltage.
The acidity of the juice in a lemon makes it ideal for this sort of chemical reaction. The molecules in the juice will carry the electric current between the two metal ends of the battery. [9] X Research source
Ensure the wire is wrapped tightly around each piece. The battery will not function as well without proper contact between each connection. You should have three penny and nail pairs when you are finished.
Again, wrap the wire tightly around each piece to make good connections.
It is not super important that all of your lemons stay lined up as long as the single penny and nail are stuck into separate lemons.
Continue alternating between pennies and nails until you reach the last lemon which will already have a single copper-wrapped nail. Be careful not to have the nail and penny touch within each lemon. If they touch, the battery will short and you won’t get any voltage.
If the voltage is very low, try moving the nails closer to the pennies in each lemon and make sure all of the wires are in contact with each penny and nail.
