Sir Humphry Davy
Davy's most important investigations were devoted to electrochemistry. Following Galvani's experiments and the discovery of the voltaic pile, interest in galvanic electricity had become widespread. The first chemical decomposition, by means of the pile were carried out in 1800 by Nicholson and Carlisle, who obtained hydrogen and oxygen from water, and who decomposed the aqueous solutions of a variety of common salts. Davy, too, began to example the chemical effects of electricity in 1800. He soon found that when he passed electrical current through some substances, these substances decomposed, (a process later called electrolysis). There it was certain that electrical forces could generate a current only when the electrolyte was capable of oxidizing one of the metals, and that the intensity of the voltage generated was directly related to the reactivity of the electrolyte with the metal. Evidently, Davy understood that the actions of electrolysis and of the voltaic pile were the same. His work led him to propose that, the elements of a chemical compound are held together by electrical forces. His first successes came in 1807 with the separation of potassium from molten potash and of sodium from common salt. Through electrolysis, D
Because of Sir Humphry Davy's discoveries, several batteries that created an electrical current were developed. The simplest battery probably ever created was the Zinc-carbon battery. The following is a written out chemical reaction: The acid molecules break up into three ions: two H+ ions and one SO4-- ion. The zinc atoms on the surface of the zinc rod lose two electrons (2e-) to become Zn++ ions. The Zn++ ions combine with the SO4-- ion to create ZnSO4, which dissolves in the acid. The electrons from the zinc atoms combine with the hydrogen ions in the acid to create H2 molecules (hydrogen gas). Lithium photo battery - Lithium, lithium-iodide and lead-iodide are used in cameras because of their ability to supply power surges. Alkaline battery - Used in common Duracell and Energizer batteries, the electrodes are zinc and manganese-oxide, with an alkaline electrolyte. Zinc-carbon battery - Also known as a standard carbon battery, zinc-carbon chemistry is used in all inexpensive AA, C and D dry-cell batteries. The electrodes are zinc and carbon, with an acidic paste between them that serves as the electrolyte.
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Approximate Word count = 846
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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