Electricity & Magnetism: Pickle Glow

PIRA Class: 5D30.30

Purpose: Demonstrate conduction through an ionic (electrolyte) solution

Description: 

With the room lights off, watch a pickle glow and sizzle when connected to a 110 V outlet. Push a nail into each end of the pickle, turn off the lights, plug in the cord. The pickle will begin to flow and may smoke some.

PEDAGOGY: Emphasize that the nails do not touch each other. Current is flowing through the pickle because the pickle juice contains salt which separates into Na+ and Cl- ions which can move through the pickle. The pickle glows yellow due to the prominent yellow line in Sodium's emission spectrum. If a cucumber is pickled in other salts, it will glow other colors.

NOTE: You may want to plug the cord into a power strip to have an easy ON/OFF switch. Once electrocuted, the pickle is not safe to eat and should be thrown away.

Equipment: 

Cord with Nail Prongs, Pickle

Location: 

Shelf 312