A comparative study between the

amount of current that can light a

3W bulb lemon battery as citric
acid or vinegar battery as acetic
acids.
Researchers:
Alvarez, Grech Gia D.
Dayhop, Adelyn Fe O.
Ojario, Princes Ann Marie O.
 InTRODUCTION
Background of the study
The abundance of energy in the environment is a gift. It is made up of numerous forms of energy. Electrical energy, also
known as electricity, is one of these. One of the most significant components in our life is electricity. It is an essential
component of the modern environment that we all live in today. According to EIA (2021) electricity is both a basic part of
nature and one of the most widely used forms of energy. If you suffer a power outage that leaves you in the dark, and your
flashlight is out of batteries, you might find the energy to power the bulb. An orange, lemon or lime can act as a battery,
and while a single one might not generate enough voltage to illuminate a LED bulb, several wired in series will. Citrus
fruits can do this because they contain citric acid, an electrolyte that allows electricity to flow. The power actually comes
from the electron exchange between a pair of electrodes that you insert in the fruit pulp. For the exchange to be powerful
enough to do anything useful, you need a strong conducting medium, and citrus fruits especially lemons have that in
spades (Deziel 2019). The acidity of citrus fruit juice acts as an electrolyte that conducts electricity. Citrus fruits such as
oranges, grapefruits, limes, and lemons have high acidity levels. Electrical power increases as you connect more fruits.
(Jameson, 2019).
Vinegar also makes a good electrolyte because it contains acetic acid. You can use copper for the anode, but zinc makes a
better cathode than aluminum; if you don’t have a zinc strip, use a galvanized nail, which is coated with zinc. You should
get close to a volt from this cell. If you want to power a LED, you need to wire two of these cells in series to double the
voltage (Deziel,2017). Vinegar Produces electricity, which acts as the electrolyte! Electricity is generated by reaction of the
two different metals (the electrodes) with the vinegar (the electrolyte). So, you can just place two different kinds of metal in
a conducting solution and that’s it, you get a battery! (H., 2018) Vinegar Also contains acetic acid. The battery has
become the most popular power source for many domestic and industrial uses since its inception. A battery may be built
in a variety of ways and its produced output can be controlled in a variety of ways as well. Each component is essential to
achieving the project’s desired goal. This Research demonstrates that finding new ways to generate power is possible. It’s
also interesting to learn about vinegar ability and lemon to generate power and how it benefits the environment. Each
person’s interest will be awakened as a result of this investigation.
 InTRODUCTION
Statement of the Problem
Nowadays, people have experienced having no electricity due to not paying bills and whatsoever. Electricity is important
especially in our when we go on with our day. We need light to give us brightness when we are doing something during
nighttime. We also need some appliances like refrigerator to keep our foods fresh but how can we possibly do that if there
is no electricity? Well, according to Electrician Courses 4U(n.d.) telephone lines would be down and phone signal lost. Our
mobile phones will be useless as the battery dwindles. Gas central heating won’t work. Somehow there can be sometimes
that electricity has a main problem like electrical surges. It can be occurred due to poor wiring in the house or lightning
strikes or faulty appliances or damaged power lines (Platinum Electricians, 2017). This is where we conducted a research
paper where in, we will investigate whether a Lemon battery citric acid can light up a 3W bulb or a Vinegar battery acetic
acid will. The goal is we find which of this two has more current to light a bulb.

Scope and Limitations

The scope of the study. This research will be focused on which has more current that can light a 3W bulb. We aim to find
which has more current that can light a 3W bulb with a Lemon battery as an element of citric-acid and a Vinegar battery
as an element of acetic acid. The data gathered will be used in assessing and analyzing the efficiency and effectiveness of
these acid batteries to become powerful enough to power a 3W bulb. The limitations of this research. We lack some of the
materials for this research experiment because some of them are not easy to attain, especially the multimeter. The use of
lemon and Vinegar have many limitations and variables to consider an example its limitations are the time that the lemon
have been harvested or it has been ripened. Another one is the condition that the fruit is in if it’s rotten, good, or perfectly
well. The limitation of the vinegar battery is that the vinegar might spill out and for each one only can store a limited
amount of electricity. This research experiment is also quite dangerous because we are dealing with electricity. If a
researcher is not careful enough, she could be harmed.
 References
Deziel, C. (2017, April 25). How to make a battery with Coke & Vinegar. Sciencing. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from
https://sciencing.com/make-battery-coke-vinegar-8272423.html

Deziel, C. (2019, March 2). Why do citrus fruits produce electricity? Sciencing. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from
https://sciencing.com/do-citrus-fruits-produce-electricity-5167602.html

Electrician Courses 4U. (n.d.). How no electricity affects you. Life with no electricity. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from
https://electriciancourses4u.co.uk/useful-resources/life-with-no-
electricity/?fbclid=IwAR1ziTkwh1uKtub7WBpJLQgKDXb3U1ldfWzRgcln22sVk9q7Xrv J4Otatm4

H., J. (2018, January 06). Vinegar battery from Copper Wire & Nails: DIY Electricity! Retrieved February 11, 2022, from
https://www.cool-solar-stuff.com/solar-diy/diy-vinegar-battery-lights-led/
Jameson, M. (2019, March 2). What foods make electricity? Retrieved February 11, 2022, from
https://sciencing.com/foods-make-electricity-6519340.html

U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - independent statistics and analysis. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
(2021, March 18). Retrieved February 11, 2022, from
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/#:~:text=Electricity%20is%20both%20a%20basic,wind%20energy%2C%20into%2
0electrical%20power.

10 common electrical problems around the home. Platinum Electricians. (2017, December 6).
Retrieved February 11, 2022, from https://www.platinumelectricians.com.au/blog/common-electrical-problems-around-the-
home/?fbclid=IwAR2mHmvG0BAoUHFeMRTsLy1TVy9KdePKRjtO92RNdJQmsVIAVrL Mrn-XER8
 Review of related Literature
Conversion of Fruit to Battery

Electric current is the flow of electrons of an electrical charge and is measured using an ammeter. Voltage is the
force that pushes the electrons through a circuit and is measured in volts. When two dissimilar metals are
placed in a common conducting solution, electricity will be produced. This is the basis of the electrochemical or
wet cell. (Hulme,1970).

Copper and zinc metals are used as the electrodes while the citric acid found in fruit is the electrolyte. The zinc is
more reactive than copper but copper atoms attract electrons more than the zinc atoms, as the attracted
electrons concentrate on the copper: the electrons repel each other. The electrons on the zinc strips flows to the
copper strip through an external circuit, the hydrogen ions in the fruit accept these electrons to form hydrogen
gas which explains why bubbling of gas is produced at the copper strip when two metals are connected by a
wire. Fruit provides both the electrolyte and a simple way to support the electrodes. The acid involved in citrus
fruits (lemon, orange, grapefruits,e.t.c.) is citric acid. The acidity which is measured by the pH varies substantially
(Watson and Preedy, 2010).

The electrode reacts with the juice in the fruit and vegetable to generate electricity and it was discovered that
spoilt fruit produced highest voltage out of all tested fruits. The further apart the electrode and the higher the
acidity of the fruit, determine the high value voltage. Copper and zinc electrode is the best for this experiment.
Functional Properties of Vinegar
Traditional vinegar is produced from fruit juices such as grape, apple, plum, coconut and tomato, rice, and potato.
Acetic acid bacteria are present everywhere in the environment. They may propagate in food materials which
contain sugar or in the fermented products which contain alcohol. Different species of Acetic acid bacteria have been
isolated from various kinds of vinegars.

Vinegars are commonly used for pickling of fruits and vegetables and in the preparation of mayonnaise, salad
dressings, mustard, and other food condiments. Although useful as a food ingredient for flavor and functional
properties, the potential health benefits of vinegar varieties are leading researchers to further consider this long
used food product (Tan 2005). Vinegar is manufactured worldwide from a wide variety of starting materials using
different production methodologies. Acetic acid is the dominant flavor compound in vinegar and has a long history
as an important direct food additive to acidulate food for preservation. Although vinegar traditionally has been used
as a food flavoring and preservative, recent investigations demonstrate the potent bioactive effects of vinegars
which may benefit human health. Regular consumption of bioactive substances is promoted by many nutritional
researchers and the functional food properties of vinegar have been reported in a variety of scientific and lay
publications. With documentation of the health benefits of vinegar, a concurrent increase in demand for fruit vinegar
production has occurred (Mazza and Murooka 2009).
Vinegar Introduction Technology
Vinegar is an acid liquid produced from the fermentation of ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient, acetic
acid (ethanoic acid). Natural vinegars contain small amounts of tartaric acid, citric acid, and other acids. Vinegar is
the product obtained as a result of impartial oxidation of alcohol in a fermenting sugar containing fruit or cane
juice, molasses, fermented mash of malted grain, honey, syrups, etc. Vinegar is primarily used to flavor and preserve
foods and as an ingredient in salad dressings.

The three common methods used for vinegar production are the generator or trickling method, the submerged
fermentation or the Acetator method and the Orleans traditional method. The generator method is quicker in
comparison with the others. Submerged vinegar systems are most commonly used by corporations who produce
high quantities of vinegar with a high content of acetic acid.

Generally, vinegar production allows utilization of over-riped fruits, sugarcane rejects, ethyl alcohol rejects and cane
by-products such as molasses and bagasse. Since sugarcane is well known and grown widely in Ethiopia, it is
feasible to use cane juice as a raw material for vinegar production. Especially in sugar producing areas, where
leftover canes rejected by mills are available, it is recommended to utilize the leftovers for the production of vinegar.
(Kocher, Kalra and Phutela 2006)
References
Hulme, A.C. (1970). The Biochemistry of Fruits and their Products. Hulme, London and New York Academic Press. Pp. 33.

Kocher G.S., Kalra K.L., and Phutela R.P. (2006). Comparative Production of Sugarcane Vinegar by Different
Immobilization Techniques, Journal of Institute of Brewing.

Mazza S, Murooka Y. 2009. Vinegar through the age. In: L Solieri, P Giudici, editors. Vinegars of the world. Milán:
Springer-Verlag. p 17− 39.

Tan SC. 2005. Vinegar fermentation [Master of Science thesis]. Louisiana State Univ., Dept. of Food Science, Baton Rouge.
p 101s.

Watson R.R. and Preddy, V.R. (2010). Bioactive Food in Promoting Health; Fruits and Vegetables. Academic Press.
Massachusetts ISBN 978-0-12-374628-3
THANK YOU For listening!

By: Group 5