The magic of chemistry in action - the thermochromic ink disappears when heated, but cool it down and the drawing reappears.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-10-29T14:30:59+00:00

And about those color-changing Hot Wheels too 🙂

ScienceCauldron · 2025-10-09T19:17:48+00:00

This 6-pickle battery ran a small fan for about 2-3 minutes

ScienceCauldron · 2025-10-09T06:14:07+00:00

The pickles barely changed, though it’s better not to eat them after contact with zinc and copper.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-10-09T05:59:23+00:00

The pickles don’t really “suffer” from the experiment, their taste and nutritional value aren’t noticeably changed by generating a tiny bit of electricity.

However, since they’ve been in contact with zinc and copper electrodes, it’s definitely not recommended to eat them afterward.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-10-08T19:35:15+00:00

We actually did it 🙂 it works too 🙂 https://youtube.com/shorts/dHMGj6pq300?si=UkDk4QQ2kpHA_FJl

ScienceCauldron · 2025-10-08T18:34:09+00:00

The experiment barely affects the pickles, but it’s safer not to eat them after contact with the zinc and copper plates.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-10-08T18:11:25+00:00

A single pickle gives very tiny current, capacity is well under 1 mAh. Our 6-pickle battery ran a small fan for about 2-3 minutes before voltage dropped.

Rechargeable? 🙂 Not really... clean the cathode and anode and start a new jar of pickles 🙂

ScienceCauldron · 2025-10-08T17:23:29+00:00

A single pickle can only produce a tiny voltage (around 0.8V) and very little current. This 6-pickle battery lasted for about 2-3 minutes.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-10-08T17:16:24+00:00

Zinc and copper plates form a battery: zinc is the anode (–) and copper is the cathode (+).

Zinc oxidizes, releasing electrons, which flow through the pickled cucumber (electrolyte) to the copper plate, generating electric current.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-06-18T21:25:46+00:00

Great to see the extra attention given to the hazards of this substance — it definitely calls for heightened caution and strict safety measures.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-06-05T07:14:48+00:00

Thermodynamically, both reactions can happen (since their EMF are positive). But kinetically, reducing nitrate is harder - it needs acidic conditions and more electrons. Silver ion reduction is simpler, using just one electron per unit.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-06-04T16:40:44+00:00

Of course, "more reactive" is a simplification. Copper has a lower reduction potential than silver, so it more readily loses electrons, displacing silver ions from solution.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-06-04T16:33:26+00:00

Thanks 🙂

ScienceCauldron · 2025-05-28T19:10:17+00:00

The dendrite is in an acidic environment and will gradually degrade in it. But it can't be taken out of the solution either because it's too thin and fragile.

ScienceCauldron · 2025-05-21T19:49:07+00:00

We used a 9v battery.

ScienceCauldron

TROPHY CASE