Just Stack It and Electricity Flows! The Burger-Style Voltaic Battery and the Drama of Redox Reactions

I’m Ken Kuwako, your science trainer. Every day is an experiment!

A few drops of liquid, and a stationary propeller suddenly springs to life, spinning with incredible energy. It feels like magic, but this is the very foundation of the “battery”—a discovery by Italian physicist Alessandro Volta in the late 18th century that forever changed human history. Today, I want to take you through the fascinating drama of energy created by metals and liquids, featuring a Voltaic pile experiment we conducted at the SEPUP research group.

Recreating the World’s First Battery: The Hamburger Style Pile

For this experiment, we don’t need any fancy equipment. The stars of the show are a copper plate, a zinc plate, and a piece of filter paper to soak up the liquid. With these simple materials, you can generate electricity surprisingly easily. We used a dedicated experiment kit provided by Narika.First, we prepare these neatly cut metal plates.The method is quite unique. We stack the copper plate, the filter paper, and the zinc plate in that order, making it look just like a hamburger. Then, we use a pipette to add a few drops of 10% diluted hydrochloric acid, and then…https://youtu.be/Og9WMH9wJssAs you can see, the propeller connected to the motor starts spinning round and round!

The Weak Point of the Voltaic Pile: Polarization

While the propeller is spinning, the original Voltaic pile actually has a major flaw. After a short while, the rotation begins to slow down. When we measure the voltage at this point, it’s only about 0.8V. The reason becomes clear if you look closely at the surface of the copper plate. It’s covered in fizzing hydrogen bubbles that end up blanketing the entire plate. This phenomenon is called polarization. The hydrogen blocks the flow of electricity, causing the battery’s life to drain almost immediately. Modern batteries, like the Daniell cell, are designed to prevent this, but it’s an unavoidable hurdle for the classic Voltaic pile.

Burning the Copper? A Surprising Power-Up Trick

This is where science experiments get really fun. You can dramatically revive a dying propeller with one simple “extra step.” The trick is to heat the copper plate with a gas burner until an oxide film forms on the surface.When we repeat the experiment using this blackened, seemingly “burnt” copper plate, the propeller spins even faster than before! The electromotive force jumps up to about 1.1V.Why does a “dirty” copper plate produce more power? It’s because the copper oxide on the surface helps the process of receiving electrons.

\[\text{（Electrodo positivo）：} \text{Cu}\_2\text{O} + 2\text{H}^+ + 2\text{e}^- \rightarrow 2\text{Cu} + \text{H}\_2\text{O}\]

This reaction suppresses the formation of hydrogen bubbles, giving the voltage a significant boost. When the voltage eventually drops again and you remove the plate, the black copper oxide has vanished, leaving the metal shiny and bright once more. Being able to see the reaction “finishing” through this visual change is part of the charm of this experiment.

Learning History Through Trial and Error

Compared to modern batteries, the Voltaic pile is certainly not high-performance. However, it is an incredible educational tool that allows us to experience the grand discovery that combining different metals can extract electricity. The more you dig into it—like learning how the copper plate acts as a catalyst for hydrogen—the deeper the world of science becomes. The Voltaic pile is finicky and unpredictable, but that’s exactly why it inspires us to ask, “How can I make it run longer?” I encourage you to see the first step of battery history with your own eyes.https://phys-edu.net/wp/?p=49892

Inquiries and Requests

Let’s make the wonders of science a part of your daily life! I’ve put together plenty of fun experiments you can try at home along with helpful tips. Take a look around!My “Science Notebook” content is now a book! Details here.Learn more about the author, Ken Kuwako, here.For various requests (writing, lectures, workshops, TV supervision, appearances, etc.), click here.– Get the latest updates on X (formerly Twitter)!

Check out my experiment videos on the Science Material Channel!