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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study


Clay is a type of soil when wet becomes plastic and sticky but permanently hard
when baked or fired. For some people, clay is a blessing because clay has economic uses
to human; they earn money like by making pot, kitchen utensils and vases. But still, other
people treat it as their enemy because clay is common to compaction and water clogging.
Organic materials found on the clay particles that are essential to plants are calcium,
magnesium, sodium, potassium, and many others.
One of 2008s primary issues is the rise of electric bill. MERALCO, a company
distributing electricity, implemented system loss charge to the public to regain billions
of money being stolen by illegal jumpers. Electricity is very important to man. It helps us
to do some activities which were hard to perform. Without electricity, the appliances, like
television, refrigerator, computer and radio, wont work and would be helpless.
Due to technology and modernity, this study aims the possibility of generating
electricity from clay. It will also seek the possibility of using this technology as one of
the non-renewable resources of electricity.
This study finds out if there would be an environmental effect on using clay as a
source of electricity. It would also help us understand more about electricity and clay, to
inform the public on how to conserve electricity, and help those people who cannot
afford to pay their electricity bills and those who consume large amount of electricity.
B. Main Problem/s
This study aims to know if clay could be a source of electricity. Specifically, the
study seeks to answer the following questions:
1. How much voltage can be obtained in the clay?

2. Is there a significant difference between the amounts of electricity generated on


clay to the electricity generated from the vegetable (e.g. potato)?
3. Is there a significant difference between the periods of time the clay light up the
bulb than in the vegetable?
C. Hypothesis
1. There are no voltages that can be obtained in the clay.
2. There is no significant difference between the amounts of electricity generated on
clay to the electricity generated from the vegetable (e.g. potato).
3. There is no significant difference between the periods of time the clay light up
the bulb than in the vegetable.
D. Significance of the Study
This study is all about generating electricity on clay. The study will help those
people who consume large amount of electricity. Clay could serve as emergency candle
or flash light when there is brown out, if proven it could generate electricity.
If clay will be used to generate electricity, it can be a new source of electricity
aside of using it in making bricks, pots, vases, and many others.
E. Definition of terms
1. Clay
A finegrained, firm earthy material that is plastic when wet and hardens
when heated, consistingprimarily of hydrated silicates of aluminum and widely u
sed in making bricks, tiles, and pottery. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Clay)
2. Electricity
A fundamental form of energy observable in positive and negative forms
that occurs naturally (as in lightning) or is produced (as in a generator) and that is
expressed in terms of the movement and interaction of electrons.
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electricity)

3. Voltage
The force of an electrical current that is measured in volts.
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electricity)
4. Physical Properties of Clay
Geologists define clay as extremely small particles of soil that measures
less than four micrometers in diameter. The word clay also refers to the earthly
material composed of certain kinds of silicate minerals that have been broken
down by weathering. There are two general types of clay. Expandable clay
becomes liquid when so much water is added to it while nonexpendable clay
becomes soft then mixed with water.1
1

World Book Encyclopedia, Volume#4, (U.S.A.: World Book International,

1996), pp. 69-70


5. Chemical Properties of Clay
Iron oxide may color the clay red. Clays that contain various amounts of
carbon compounds may be different shades of gray.2 Organic materials found on
the clay that could help generate electricity, and essential to plants, are calcium,
magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc.
6. Physical Properties of Copper
Among the metals, copper is second only to iron in amounts used today.
The principal uses are electrical, because of the extremely high conductivity of
pure copper. Because copper is very ductile, it can be drawn into wires of any
diameter from about 0.025mm upward.3
7. Chemical Properties of Copper
The symbol of copper is Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight
63.546. It has many desirable properties such as its conductivity of electricity and
heat, its resistance to corrosion, malleability, and ductility.4

8. Physical Properties of Zinc


Zinc is most often seen as a green light grey metal surface that is
galvanized (coated) onto water buckets and many other articles made of iron or
steel. Zinc also is used in flashlight batteries and in most paints. The shiny yellow
alloy called brass is a mixture of copper and zinc.5
2

World Book, ibid.

Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, Volume#7, (U.S.A.: Rand McNally and

Co., 1995), pp. 200-201


4

Funk and Wagnalls, ibid.

World Book Encyclopedia, Volume#20, (U.S.A.: World Book International,

1996), p. 370
6

World Book, ibid.

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

A. History of Electricity7
The ancient Greece observed that amber, when rubbed, attracted small light
objects. About 600 B.C. Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus held that amber had a soul,
since it could make other objects move. In a treatise written about three centuries later,
another Greek philosopher, Theophrastus, stated that other substances also have this
power.
For almost 2,000 years later after Theophrastus, little progression was made in
the study of electricity. In 1600 English physician William Gilbert published a book in
which he noted that many substances beside amber could be charged by rubbing. He gave
the substances the Latin name electrica, which is derived from the Greek word electron
(which means amber). The word electricity was first used by English writer and
physician Sir Thomas Browne in 1646.
The fact that electricity can flow through a substance was discovered by 17TH-century
German physicist Otto von Guericke, who observed conduction in a linen thread. Von
Guericke also described the first the first machine for producing an electric charge in
1672. the machine consisted of a sulfur sphere turned by a crank. When a hand was held
against the sphere, a charge was induced on the sphere. Conduction was rediscovered
independently by Englishman Stephen Gray during the early 1700. Gray also noted that
substances are good conductors while others are insulators.
Also during the early 1700s, Frenchman Charles Dufay observed that electric
charges are of two kinds. He found out that opposite kinds attract each other while similar
kinds repel. Dufay called one kind vitreous and the other kind resinous.

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B. History of Battery8
The first battery was created by Alessandro Volta in 1800. To create his battery
he made a stack by alternating layers of zinc, blotting papers soaked in salt water, and
silver. This arrangement was known as a voltaic pile. The top and bottom layers of the
pile must be different metals. If you attach a wire to the top and bottom of the pile, you
can measure a voltage and a current from the pile. The pile can be stacked as high as you
like, and each layer will increase the voltage by a fixed amount.
C. Voltaic and Electrolytic Cells9
A voltaic cell uses a spontaneous reaction to generate electrical energy. In the
cell reaction, the difference in chemical potential between higher energy reactants and
lower energy products is converted into electrical energy. This energy is used to operate
the loadflashlight bulb, CD player, car starter motor, or other electrical device. In other
words, the system does work on the surroundings. All batteries contain voltaic cells.
An electrolytic cell uses electrical energy to drive a nonspontaneous reaction. In
the cell reaction, electrical energy from an external power supply converts lower energy
reactants into higher energy products. Thus, the surroundings do work on the system.
Note that the two types of cell have certain features in common. Two electrodes,
which conduct the electricity between cell and surroundings, are dipped into an
electrolyte, a mixture of ions (usually in aqueous solution) that are involved in the
reaction or that carry the charge. An external circuit provides the means for electrons to
flow between them.
8

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/battery1.html

Silberber, Martin, Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change,

(USA:McGraw-Hill, 2003), p. 292

D. Other Studies
A study is conducted by using potato as a source of electricity. Through copper
and zinc electrodes, juices generate electricity. Results and findings showed that it
generated 1.2V. But it didnt light up the miniature bulb; instead, it lit up the LED as
substitute for the bulb.10
Another study is conducted by using Copper Sulfate as electrolyte. Still, the
electrodes used are copper and zinc. Results and findings showed that the solution
generated 0.7V, that didnt light a 1.2V bulb.11
Another study is conducted by determining which battery lasts longer. The
batteries used are Duracell, Eveready, Energizer and BA 30 army batteries. The power
of the different brands of batteries was tested on a light bulb. There were two batteries
from each brand. Results and findings showed that the Duracell battery lasted the longest,
101 hours and 20 minutes; Energizer battery, second, 99 hours and 17 minutes; Eveready
battery, third, 28 hours and 30 minutes, and last but not the least, BA 30 batteries, 25
hours and 58 minutes.12
Another study is conducted by using lemon as a source of electricity. Copper and
steel electrodes were put on the squeezed lemon. Results and findings showed that it
generated 0.7 volts of electricity.13
10

http://www.miniscience.com/projects/potatoelectricity

11

http://www.miniscience.com/link/make_electricity.html

12

http://www.miniscience.com/projects/battery

13

http://www. energyquest.ca.gov/projects/lemon.html

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

A. Materials
1. Clay
The clay were got in any anthills in San Carlos Heights, Irisan,
BaguioCity
2.

Electrodes and other Materials


In the experiment, copper metal will be used as the anode, and zinc metal
will be used as the cathode instead of using carbon metal because zinc metal is
more accessible and cheaper. This two, along with the miniature bulb having
1.2V, miniature sockets, LED (in case the clay would not light the bulb) and the
alligator clips will be bought at the electric shops. The multimeter will be also
borrowed at the electric shop. Salt and water are also needed to enhance the
electrolyte level of the clay, and to compact it. Potato is also needed since it is the
control. Beaker would help to hold the salt solution to be mixed.

B. Procedure
1. Mixing and molding
Salt and water are to be mixed with different concentrations. Then, the
solution will be mixed to the clay, to increase its electrolyte level of the clay, and
to compact the clay. Then, mold the clay to compact it.
2. Inserting electrodes and measuring voltage
Insert the copper and zinc electrodes, close but not touching each other.
Then, connect the copper and zinc electrodes to the multimeter through the use of
alligator clips.

C. Treatment
The control group of this study is the potato generating 1.2 volts. There are four
treatments in this study: S1 contains 200mL of water and 4 tablespoon of salt mixed with
700g of clay, S2 contains 150mL of water and 3 tablespoon of salt mixed with 650g of clay,
S3 contains 100mL of water and 2 tablespoon of salt mixed with 600g of clay, and S4 is the
control group.

The table below shows the amount of solution to be mixed per treatment.
Treatment

Amount of Salt (tbsp)

Amount of Water (mL)

Amount of Clay (g)

S1

200

700

S2

150

650

S3

100

600

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