INDEX
Research Plan
Project Report
Abstract
Table of contents
Abstract
Research Plan
Introduction
Background Information
Problem
Aim
Hypothesis
Research question
Variables
Method
Results
Analysis and Results
Interpretation of Results
Errors and Limitation
Conclusions
Future Directives
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Photos
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this expo was to build a salt water battery that can power small toys and
the question that was asked is can sodium chloride be used as a source of electrical
energy, the researchers variables were the controlled variables was the amount of
water used, independent variable was the measurement of volts and the dependent
was the amount of salt used.
Method
When the researcher made the solution they used 200ml of water and 20g of salt for
the10% solution, 40g for the 20% and 100g for the 50% solution. Once the copper
wire cathode and zinc plated screw anode are inserted in the solution, making sure
that they do not touch. Place the alligator clips on the zinc anode and the on the
copper cathode, now measure the voltages output of each solution.
Results
When 10% sodium chloride was used 0.72V of electricity produced
When 20% sodium chloride was used 0.76V of electricity produced.
When 50% sodium chloride solution was used 0.70V of electricity produced.
Conclusion
Table salt and water was used to make a Sodium Chloride solution that was used to
make a salt water battery. This battery yielded a result of enough volts to make small
toys work. The researcher’s hypothesis was tested true and correct. For future
research the researcher test if they get higher cell voltages and currents when adding
other chemicals to the electrolyte such as bleach, vinegar, different salt or different
water like ocean water or distilled water.
Research Plan
Zeeya Hassim
Category: Chemistry
Making a battery out of sodium chloride (Table Salt)
Introduction
Literature Review
A saltwater battery is a type of battery that uses a mixture of water and salt as its
electrolyte. Unlike traditional batteries, saltwater batteries are non-flammable and do
not pollute as much as alternative options. Thus, they are considered to be a
relatively eco-friendly energy storage solution.
When you put salt in water, the water molecules pull the sodium and chlorine ions
apart so they are floating freely, increasing the conductivity. These ions are what
carry electricity through the water with an electric current. In short, saltwater (water +
sodium chloride) can help to produce electricity.
Sodium is harvested from salt water while charging the battery, and the harvested
sodium is discharged with oxygen dissolved in the salt water, functioning as oxidants
to produce electricity. The salt water provides both anode (Na metal) and cathode
(O2) materials for the proposed battery.
When an electrical charge is passed through a salt (NaCl) solution, the sodium
separates from the chloride. Chloride is negatively charged and is attracted to the
positive side of the electrical charge where it bonds with oxygen and hydrogen from
the water.
Problem Statement
The problem is that in South Africa there is not enough electricity due to load
shedding and this may be used as an alternative power source for small lights and
toys.
Research Question?
The questions that will be asked is can sodium chloride be used as a source of
electrical energy.
Aim
The purpose of this expo will be to build a salt water battery that can power small toys
and a low voltage light bulb.
Hypothesis
If salt water is used as a source of electrical energy it will be able to power toys and a
small light bulb
Variables
Independent Variable:
Is the amount of salt used.
Dependent variable:
Is the measurement of volts.
Controlled variable:
The amount of water used
Method
Materials:
Salt, Water, Zinc plated Screws, Copper wire, Multimeter, Alligator clips ,
Plastic/Glass bottles or jars, Plastic Spoon
Step 1:
Making the 10% salt water.
Pour 200ml of water into your plastic bottle
Add 20g of Table Salt into the water
Stir with plastic spoon till dissolved
Making the 20% salt water.
Pour 200ml of water into your plastic bottle
Add 40g of Table Salt into the water
Stir with plastic spoon till dissolved
Making the 50% salt water
Pour 200ml of water into your plastic bottle
Add 100g of Table Salt into the water
Stir with plastic spoon till dissolved
Step 2:
Label your containers
Step 3:
Get your electrodes ready.
The copper Wire will be the (Cu) electrode and will be your cathode.
The Zinc Plated screw will be the zinc (Zn) anode.
Step 4
Fill each of your labelled cups or jars with 200ml of your prepared saltwater
electrolyte.
Step 5
In each of your bottles, insert one zinc and one copper electrode. Place them
on opposite sides of the cup so they face each other. Be careful not to knock
over the cups. The electrodes should remain in the saltwater electrolyte
throughout the entire experiment. You have to make sure that they never touch
each other to prevent an accidental short circuit.
Step 6
Now you are ready to test if your batteries are working.
Test each of your batteries successively.
Step 7
Take one red and one black alligator clip cable and connect one end of the
black alligator cable to the zinc anode. Take the red alligator clip cable and
connect one end of the cable to the copper cathode.
Step 8
Measuring Voltage and Current Output
Measure the open-circuit voltage of each of your saltwater batteries. Start with the
first one and then continue with the other two trials. These values give you the highest
voltage that your battery can supply
i. First, plug the red multimeter probe into the multimeter port labelled VΩmA, and
the black multimeter probe into the multimeter port labelled COM.
ii. Now clip the end of the red alligator clip cable (still connected to your copper
electrode) onto the metal part of the red multimeter probe.
iii. Finally, clip the end of the black alligator clip cable (still connected to your zinc
electrode) onto the metal part of the black multimeter probe.
Set the multimeter dial to measure in the 20 V range (the "20" in the upper left of
the dial). Record the open-circuit voltage in your data table
Ethics
In this expo no ethics were violated.
Safety:
Safety measures are taken.
Time frame:
By 25 April the research plan will be done.
2-5 May: start experimenting and models.
8-12 May: Project report and file.
15-19 May: Board and speech.
Reference:
https://www.electronicshub.org/salt-water-battery/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_battery
https://bridex.fujielectric.com/salt-water-battery
Introduction
In this Expo we are trying to use normal salt found in every home, mixed with water to
build a salt water battery that can power small toys and a low voltage light bulb and
maybe do further research to make our battery strong enough to charge a cell phone.
Background Information
A saltwater battery is a type of battery that uses a mixture of water and salt as its
electrolyte. Unlike traditional batteries, saltwater batteries are non-flammable and do
not pollute as much as alternative options. Thus, they are considered to be a
relatively eco-friendly energy storage solution.
When you put salt in water, the water molecules pull the sodium and chlorine ions
apart so they are floating freely, increasing the conductivity. These ions are what
carry electricity through the water with an electric current. In short, saltwater (water +
sodium chloride) can help to produce electricity.
Sodium is harvested from salt water while charging the battery, and the harvested
sodium is discharged with oxygen dissolved in the salt water, functioning as oxidants
to produce electricity. The salt water provides both anode (Na metal) and cathode
(O2) materials for the proposed battery.
When an electrical charge is passed through a salt (NaCl) solution, the sodium
separates from the chloride. Chloride is negatively charged and is attracted to the
positive side of the electrical charge where it bonds with oxygen and hydrogen from
the water.
Problem Statement
The problem is that in South Africa there is not enough electricity due to load
shedding and this may be used as an alternative power source for small lights and
toys.
Aim
The purpose of this expo will be to build a salt water battery that can power small toys
and a low voltage light bulb.
Hypothesis
If different solutions of Sodium Chloride (Salt Water) water is used as a source of
electrical energy it will produce different amount of energy.
Research Question
The question that will be asked is can sodium chloride be used as a source of energy.
Variables
Independent variable:
Is the amount of salt used.
Dependent variables:
Is the measurement of volts.
Controlled variables:
The amount of water used
Results
Measurements of amount of Volts produced with different Salt solutions
0.78
0.76
Volts Produced
0.74
0.72
0.7
0.68
0.66
10% 20% 50%
Sodium Chloride
Solution
Sodium chloride Solution Voltage Output
10 % 0.72 V
20% 0.76 V
50% 0.70 V
When a 10% sodium Chloride Solution was used 0.72 V of electricity produced
When a 20% sodium Chloride Solution was used 0.76 V of electricity produced
When a 50% sodium Chloride Solution was used 0.70 V of electricity produced
.Analysis of results
When a 10% sodium Chloride Solution was used 0.72 V of electricity produced
When a 20% sodium Chloride Solution was used 0.76 V of electricity produced
When a 50% sodium Chloride Solution was used 0.70 V of electricity produced
This shows that Sodium Chloride can produce electricity and can be used to make a
battery, the 20% solution yields the best results
Interpretation of Results
When a 10% sodium Chloride Solution was used 0.72 V of electricity produced
This yielded a voltage of 0.72V and the solution was made up of less salt. Therefore
we set up our next experiment with double the amount of salt
When a 20% sodium Chloride Solution was used 0.76 V of electricity produced
From our previous experiment we are now using double the amount of salt and this
yielded the best result, we got the highest voltage from a 20% solution. Thus we tried
adding more salt, to see if more salt will give us a better result.
When a 50% sodium Chloride Solution was used 0.70 V of electricity produced
When we tried a 50% solution the results were lower then that of the 20% solution.
Our results clearly showed that the best result came from the 20% solution. And our
sodium chloride solution can be used as a battery
Errors and Limitations
One of the Limitations of a Salt Water battery is Lower Energy Density Another
limitation is its size. Saltwater batteries store less energy compared to lithium-ion
batteries in the same amount of space. Due to the lower energy density, there is a
demand for larger sized batteries. The larger the batteries are, the more the materials
for making them are required.
The disadvantages include degradation of the anode materials or limited membrane
stability in aqueous saltwater resulting in low electrochemical performance and low
Coulombic efficiency. The use of seawater batteries exceeds the application for
energy storage.
Due to their low C-rate, saltwater batteries can only store a limited amount of energy.
In other words, if you compare one saltwater battery and a lithium-ion battery of the
same size, the saltwater battery will store less electricity
The biggest challenges for battery design are energy density, power density, charging
time, life, cost, and sustainability.
Conclusion
Table Salt and Water was used to Sodium Chloride solution that was used to make a
Salt water Battery. This Battery yielded a result of enough volts to make small toys
work.
THE HYPOTHESIS TESTED TRUE AND CORRECT
Future Directives
Can you find different ways of improving the performance of your Salt Water battery?
Test if you get higher cell voltages and currents when adding other chemicals to your
electrolyte, such as bleach, vinegar, or different salts such as Epsom salt. Will these
additions change the cell chemistry, how the electrode reactions can change when
adding different chemicals.
The electrolyte of a battery has an important function. It has to be electrically
conductive to be able to move charges from one electrode to the other as cations or
anions. In your experiments, these are the sodium and chloride ions of the table salt
(NaCl). What happens if you leave out the salt and only use tap water as the
electrolyte? Will the battery work when you use distilled water that has most ions
removed? How does your battery performance vary with different salt concentrations?
Adding more chemicals to your electrolyte is only one way of changing the cell
chemistry. What if you switched the electrode materials with a different metal? Try to
exchange the zinc anode with an aluminum metal strip that you can cut out from a
disposable aluminum tray, or just use aluminum foil as an electrode. How does the
open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current change in this battery setup? What
are the anode and cathode reactions in this case?
How does the Salt Water battery perform over a longer period of time? Let your whole
battery setup run for several days and evaluate the battery performance (measuring
open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current) twice a day. Does the voltage or the
current change a lot? Observe both electrodes over time; what do you notice?
How does the current of your Salt Water air battery vary over time during all your
different treatments? Instead of just writing down the short-circuit current at the
beginning of your treatment and after 3 minutes, monitor the current over time from
0–5 minutes and record the values every 30 seconds. Make a graph showing the time
on the x-axis and the current values on the y-axis. Do you see a difference between
the individual treatments
Bibliography
https://.www.electronicshub.org/.salt-water-battery/.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org//.wiki/Salt_water_battery.
https://bridex.fujielectric.com/.salt-water-battery.
Acknowledgments
Name Helped with Contact
Shabeerah Bavvaddin Layout and Guidelines 0742376971
Shabnam Hassim Research 0825529668
Laaiqah Hassim Planning 0822566443
