Make an AA Battery

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In this video we’ll show how to make an AA battery.

Warning: Potassium hydroxide is corrosive, zinc is a heavy metal, and manganese dioxide is an irritant. Wear gloves when handling them.

Get a 5 mL plastic syringe (the one i got was from a company called “BD” and the catalogue number was 309603). Discard the plunger and cut off the tip. Also cut the back up to the 5 mL mark.

Get a 5 by 3 cm sheet of zinc metal about 0.5 mm thick. Cut into the 3 cm side a series of cuts about half a centimetre long. Roll the sheet so it fits into the syringe tube. Don’t roll it too tight so it falls out. It should be big enough that it stays in by friction.

Once you have the right diameter, pull it out and bend inward the tabs we cut earlier.This should now form a zinc can.

Prepare the cathode powder by mixing 8 grams of manganese dioxide and 3 grams of carbon powder. This will provide enough cathode powder to make about ten batteries.

The carbon is just a conductor for the oxidant which is the manganese dioxide. The best manganese dioxide to use has the gamma type crystalline structure. The more common beta type crystalline structure will still work but will give lower current. So try and get the gamma type if you can. If you make your manganese dioxide electrochemically then it will be of the gamma form. While manganese dioxide made pyrolytically is usually of the beta form.

Now get some filter paper or a coffee filter and cut a rectangle, about 5 by 10 centimetres. To that pour a five centimetre line of about one gram of the cathode powder. Also insert a 7 centimetre length of 2 mm thick pencil lead into powder. Roll that into the paper and fold over one side so it doesn't spill out. The paper serves as a separator between the zinc and the manganese dioxide. If they came in contact the battery would short out.

Now get the zinc can we made earlier and insert the cathode roll into it. Cut off or tear any excess paper. If there is too much cathode powder that it doesn't fit then you’ll need to pour some off. If there is too little then you’ll need to take it out and add more.

Now insert the assembly pencil end first into the syringe container from earlier. Make sure the pencil lead goes through the hole in the tip. Then break off the exposed pencil lead and leave 2 mm for electrical contact.

Fill the battery with electrolyte by dropping the whole thing in solution of 30 g of potassium hydroxide in 50 mL of water. Leave it for several minutes to soak in and then take it out and leave it on some tissue for another several minutes to drain out any excess.

And that’s your battery. Mine had an open circuit voltage of about 1.412 volts and two of them could power a cheap digital clock.

Now I know some of you are wondering what the electrochemistry is behind the alkaline battery. Under load the zinc anode reacts with the potassium hydroxide electrolyte to give zinc oxide and two electrons. These electrons then go through the load and at cathode they travel through the carbon to the manganese dioxide. The manganese dioxide reacts with water to produce manganese (III) oxide and hydroxide ions. The reactions stops and the batteries dies when either the zinc or the manganese dioxide is consumed, or when the waste products build up and block further chemistry.
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This is the last video for 2014, i'm winding down for Christmas and new years, then i hope to be back mid January. I plan to launch a TubeStart fundraiser campaign at that time too.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays (and whatever other things people celebrate this time of year.) And have a happy new year! Get out there and spend it with your family and friends. If you don't have friends, make some... or clone some.

Take care. I'll see you all then. 

NurdRage
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I'm so glad you're back. When I started watching your videos I was in high school and now I'm just about at the end of the Bachelor's in chemical engineering. You were part of the experiences that made me realize how powerful chemistry can be. It's videos like this that take what is essentially technological witch craft and break them into their parts that really shows the nature of science. Thanks!

TheSage
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Looks delicious. I might prepare few for a dinner.

Oparty
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Not better than a commercial battery from a store? Until the zombie apocalypse hits and all the stores are empty! I like this video!

LeonardGreenpaw
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Thanks man. I'm so glad you're still making videos.

LarsStokholm
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Amazing!
Once again, I'm reminded why I first decided to become a chemist, awesome stuff like this.

AbstractDuality
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Glad to see you are still making videos! It broke my heart when you stopped.

TheDeepDiveLLC
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Thanks for the subtitles!

Although i'm not hearing impaired i prefer reading to hearing stuff so this helps me out.

Good work on the video to, liking the intro, short and to the point.

iblobtouch
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NurdRage So much for not coming back :P
Glad to see you're still making videos. I hope you are back for good this time.

DLCoates
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Really glad you continued to make videos even after the initial funding was gone. Hope this can continue for a long time with the support button! ( everyone should go give a couple dollars and as a great man said give up those two tacos)

partingofways
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improvised sophisticated home made i am speechless

aboubrad
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One of the best, concise videos from you ever! Thank you. This is really interesting experiment.

FizzlNet
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A new NurdRage video on my Birthday? Best present ever!

Riyame
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Eh, Eh batteries. Because he's Canadian. Get it? Eh?

SafetyLucas
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Very interesting. Wish a short bit was included on the chemical reaction algebra.

pbp
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I'm always happy when I see you have a new video. :)

I'd love to sit around with you and Nighthawkinlight and just hear all the stories you'd tell.

tybo
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So glad that you're back to making videos again. I've been missing your videos! Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! :D

ParlJang
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Imagine getting stopped at the airport with these syringe batteries

topphemelig
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This is my favourite vid of yours for some reason! Thanks NurdRage, and have a very merry christmas.

GraniteValleyDave
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The chemical reactions behind this would be interesting too

Have happy holidays

PatoroZo