Reporter: Mungcal, Christian Job Oliver M. Instructor: Ms.

Rose Ann Tamolang

Year & Section: 1-20 Date Performed: September 12, 2018

Group No. 3 Date Submitted: September 26, 2018

Experiment No. 2: Electrochemistry: Fruit Battery & Electroplating

I. INTRODUCTION

According to the LibreTexts, Electrochemistry is the study of chemical processes that cause
electrons to move. This movement of electron is called electricity, which can be generated by
movements of electrons from one element to another in a reaction known as an oxidation-reduction
or redox reaction.

In this experiment, we need a device that an electrical energy can be generated and that is
called galvanic cell. Galvanic cell consists of two electrodes that housed separately in two half-
cells. Anode, where oxidation takes place and cathode which reduction takes place.

By using two fruits as a battery, we will determine the volts by inserting two metals, Zinc
(Zn) and Aluminum (Al) in each fruit through voltmeter and the potential difference between
anode and cathode in each of them.

Electroplating in general term is a process of plating a metal into another metal by

hydrolysis. Some of its purpose is for decoration and to prevent having a corrosion of a particular
metal. There also a specific type of electroplating such as copper plating, silver plating and
chromium plating. In our second experiment, we will use copper plating as a kind of electroplating.

By using electroplating, we will coat the brass key with the Cu Wires through electricity.
Electroplating uses a form of electrolysis in which the electric current is being passed through a
solution that has an ions.

Our objectives in this experiment is;

1. To construct a galvanic cell

2. To determine the potential of a galvanic cell.

 3. To display the electroplating using electrolysis in which the electrodes play a bigger
toles than just conducting the current.

4. To use electricity to coat the metal of one electrode with the metal of the other.

II. METHODOLOGY

Part 1: Fruit Battery

Figure 1 - Pushed the Zn and Figure 2 - Measured the voltage of Figured 3 - Done the same thing
Aluminum into the Lemon the lemon using voltmeter into orange, and also measured the
voltage of it

Part 2: Electroplating of Brass Key

Figure 4 – Measured the amount of Figure 5 – Poured the copper Figure 6 – Stirred the solution
copper sulfate sulfate into the beaker along a hot
water in it

Figure 7 – Attached the alligator

clip into the brass key and Cu wire
that is connected in a 1.5v Battery
III. RESULTS

Part A. Fruit Battery

Measured Potential Anode Cathode

Lemon Orange
1. 0.499V 0.470V Zn- Al+
2. 0.488V 0.463V Zn- Al+
3. 0.481V 0.471V Zn- Al+

IV. TREATMENT OF RESULTS

Measured Potential (V)

0.51

0.5

0.49

0.48

0.47

0.46

0.45

0.44
1 2 3

Lemon Orange

Graph 1. Measured potential (V) of lemon and orange in three trials.

V. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

In the first experiment, we have observed through the data that the lemon has a higher
voltage that has an average voltage of 0.489 compared to orange that has an average voltage of
0.468. Also, both lemon and orange have the same Anode and Cathode, Zn- and Al+.
 In the second experiment, we have observed that through copper plating electroplating, the
color of the brass key has slightly changed into copper’s color because of the electrons that passes
through brass key and Cu wires.

VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

In first experiment, in order to make a fruit battery, we need to be able to conduct an

electricity on it. It needs to have an energy flowing from it. The acid that each fruits produce can
make an ion or the charged particles that is same as electric current, making it the fruit battery.

So, we have concluded in this experiment that since the lemons has a higher voltage than
the orange, it is because of its strong acids in it. The more acidic the fruit is, the more electricity it
will be able to produce.

In the second experiment, we have concluded that there is an electricity happens at the
electrolyte or the solution. When it conducts an electricity, the ions travel to another electrode to
another. From the anode where there is an oxidation happens to anode wherein reduction happens,
there is an electroplating happens between the Cu wires and the brass keys. Thus, we are able to
coat one metal to another, making the brass key’s color to have a copper-color on it.

VII. REFERENCES

LibreTexts. (June 2017). Electrochemistry Basic. Retrieved from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Anal
ytical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry/Basics_of_Electrochemistry

LibreTexts. (August 2017). Electroplating. Retrieved from

ttps://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Analy
tical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry/Electrolytic_Cells/Electroplating