CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Lemon juice has a natural pH of 2.0 and is naturally acidic. When mixed with vitamins

and other additives in the lemon juice normally found in stores for human consumption, the pH

is slightly less acidic with a pH measure of between 2.2 and 3.0. Due to the natural acidicy of

lemon juice, it can be used to conduct electricity.

Since lemon juice is acidic, it will create both positive and negative ions when sitting in

the naturally occurring water contained within a lemon. Based on these properties, you can create

a basic science experiment to use the energy conducted by one or more lemons to briefly power a

light bulb. (http://www.tech-faq.com/how-does-lemon-juice-conduct-electricity.html)

It is possible to get electricity from a lemon (and a few other acidic fruits and vegetables)

using two strips of metal. The most readily available combination is copper and zinc. The zinc

piece can be taken from the casing of an old carbon "D" cell (battery); some zinc coated nails

may work as well. The copper can be a coin containing a high amount of copper. (Note: some

recent copper coins, including the newer U.S. pennies, contain low amounts of copper mixed

with zinc. If in doubt, use a pure copper strip.) They are stuck into the lemon, and wires are

attached to each one. The wires should be attached securely to form a good electrical contact. If

the other ends of the wires are attached to a small light bulb (flashlight bulb) there should be

sufficient current to light it. Note that the metal pieces should be clean, and that they should not

touch inside the lemon.

The electric current comes from the chemical reaction between the acid in the lemon and

the zinc. Positively charged hydrogen in the acid oxidizes the zinc, causing electrons to flow

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 from the zinc to the acid. In the process, some of the hydrogen in the acid is reduced to hydrogen

gas. The copper merely completes the circuit. (bizarrelabs.com/lemon.htm)

A popular science experiment in schools involves attaching electrodes to a lemon and

using it as a battery to produce electricity. Although very low power, several lemon batteries can

power a small digital watch. These experiments also work with other fruits and vegetables.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon)

A lemon battery is a device used in experiments proposed in many science textbooks

around the world, first discovered by Josh Balestri. It is made by inserting two

different metallic objects, for example a galvanized nail and a copper coin, into a lemon. The

copper coin serves as the positive electrode or cathode and the galvanized nail as the electron-

producing negative electrode or anode. These two objects work as electrodes, causing

an electrochemical reaction which generates a small potential difference.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_battery)

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