

(Only
for experienced teachers of chemistry!
Sulfuric acid is very corrosive.
Work on a tray.
In the previous
experiment a lead cell was assembled to supply a LED with electricity.
Right photo (A -
E): In a car battery six of such cells are connected in series.
1. Left photo: Make
a model car battery by connecting six 5-ml vials with sticky tape,
2. adding 2 shiny lead sheets
1 x 6 cm and sulfuric acid 25% to each vial.
3. Place 6 plastic
sheets between the electrodes for insulation.
4. Connect one electrode
of each vial with the next one in the neighbouring vial.
5. Combine the + terminal
of one 9- Volt battery with the - terminal of a second one.
6. Connect the free electrodes
in vials 1 and 6 to this 18-Volt battery.
Observations:
1. Gas bubbles at all electrodes.
2.
The positive electrodes are covered by a brown layer.
Explanations:
1. Hydrogen gas is
formed at the negative lead electrodes:
4 e-
+ 4 H+(aq) --reduction-->
2
H2(g),
2. Lead of the anodes
reacts leaving lead dioxide
2 H2O+Pb--oxidation-->
PbO2+4
H+(aq)+4e-
back.......
go
on.................................................................................................last
modification: 18.07.2003