Voltaic pile

The Voltaic pile was the first modern electric battery, invented by Alessandro Volta in 1800. Volta demonstrated that when metals and chemicals come into contact with each other they produced an electrical current. In his research, Volta placed together several pairs of alternating copper (or silver) and zinc discs separated by cloth and soaked the cloth in brine (salt water) to increase conductivity, and an electrical current was produced. On March 20, 1800, Volta wrote to the London Royal Society to describe the technique for producing electrical current using his Pile.

Related Topics:
Battery - Alessandro Volta - 1800 - Metal - Chemical - Electric - Copper - Silver - Zinc - Brine - Current - March 20

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William Nicholson and Anthony Carlisle discovered electrolysis of water using the Voltaic pile. Humphry Davy showed that electricity from Voltaic piles was caused by a chemical reaction (not by differentials between metals as previously believed). William Hyde Wollaston showed that electricy from Voltaic piles was identical to electricity produced by friction. Davy also used the Voltaic pile to decompose and discover materials.

Related Topics:
William Nicholson - Anthony Carlisle - Humphry Davy - William Hyde Wollaston - Friction

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