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.
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