Daniell Cell Battery

Isaac Favila - Professor Scarbrough -CHM152LL

History

● Invented in 1836 by John Frederic Daniell● Precursor was voltaic cell

○ Invented by Luigi Galvani in 1799● One of the first practical batteries ever invented

John Frederick Daniell

History

● A great improvement to the voltaic cell○ Longer lifespan due to the materials having a slower rate of corrosion○ Voltaic cell was not reliable for long term use

● Was popular for powering telegram systems

A 19th century Daniell Cell

How does it work?

Two Versions:

Salt bridge separation Separation by porous barrier

How does it work?Salt Bridge:

● Copper electrode placed in copper sulfate (CuSO4) solution

● Zinc electrode placed in zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) solution

● Bridged together by salt bridge made of potassium nitrate (KNO3)

How does it work?

Porous barrier:

● This time zinc solution is placed inside the copper solution

● The copper electrode is instead a copper strip

● The barrier separating the copper and zinc is porous to allow

the solutions to interact

How does it work?● Zinc electrode oxidizes and releases electrons

Oxidation Reaction: Zn(s) ⟶ Zn2+(aq) + 2e-

● The copper electrode pulls the excess electrons through the conducting material, creating a circuit

Reduction reaction: Cu2+(aq) + 2e- ⟶ Cu(s)

● The salt bridge releases ions to balance the loss of Cu2+ and increase in Zn2+

Voltage

● Standard potential difference of 1.1 V○ Copper reduction potential is +0.340V○ Zinc reduction potential is -0.762V

● Table shows examples potential differences of real-world Daniell Cells

Solution Amount (Both Solutions)

Potential Difference

50ml 1.082V20ml 0.92V120ml 1.06V250ml 1.053V250ml 1.024V

Works Cited

“Daniell Cell.” Daniell Cell - Engineering and Technology History Wiki, Engineering and Technology History,

19 Feb. 2020, ethw.org/Daniell_Cell.

“Daniell Cell.” MagLab, MagLab, 17 June 2019, nationalmaglab.org/education/magnet-academy/watch-

play/interactive/daniell-cell.

da Rosa, Aldo. “Daniell Cell.” Daniell Cell - an Overview , ScienceDirect, 27 Mar. 2013,

www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/daniell-cell.

Roberge, Pierre R. “Daniell Cell.” Daniell Cell, Kingston Technical Software, 18 Nov. 2007, corrosion-

doctors.org/Electrochemistry-of-Corrosion/Daniell-cell.htm.

“Voltaic Pile.” MagLab, MagLab, 17 June 2019, nationalmaglab.org/education/magnet-academy/watch-

play/interactive/voltaic-pile.