Ok...heres what i need to know. I need a liquid thats readily available and cheap that will conduct electricity. Before i just go start buying stuff, i was hoping someone might have an idea for me. I HATE COLLEGE PROJECTS. LOL

 

How about water? Don't they warn you not to mess with electricity near it?


Rich

 

Salt Water

Longneck

 

Saturated salt water. Just pour the salt in until it won't dissolve anymore.

 

Hi, not a chemist but maybe this helps. Not all liquids conduct electricity. Pure distilled water for example does not conduct. In order for an electric current to be conducted, some charged mobile carriers such as free electrons (as in a metal) or free ions must be present. A solution which contains free ions will conduct electricity. Strong electrolytes are thought to dissociate completely into ions. Most salts such as NaCl and some acids such as HCl and HNO3 are examples of strong electrolytes. A few salts (CdI2) and a few acids and bases (acetic acid, ammonia) are weak electrolytes. These substances are only partially dissociated into ions when dissolved in water. Non-electrolytes do not dissociate much at all. Toluene is a non-electrolyte, for example. For your project, I would suggest salt water.

Barry

 

Any strong acid or base. Or salt dissolved in water.

 

Mercury. It's toxic, though.

 

yeah....salt water still isn't working for me. That was my first thought.

 

ok...heres everything i've tried without sucess.

water
saltwater - saturated
mt. dew
beer
apple juice
asprin water
alka seltzer water
tums water
milk
windex/with vinegar
and just about ever combonation of these.....still nothing Mt Dew was the only thing to trip my ohm meter, but not nearly enough to run anything.

 

Those will all conduct electricity. If you want to push more current try bigger anode and cathodes.

 

In order for an electric current to be conducted, some charged mobile carriers such as free electrons (as in a metal) or free ions must be present. A solution which contains ions will conduct electricity. A strong electrolyte contains a large number of ions and will cause the lamp to glow brightly. A weak electrolyte produces fewer ions and will cause the lamp to glow dimly. A non-electrolyte has very few ions; the lamp bulb will not glow.

Strong electrolytes are thought to dissociate completely into ions. Most salts such as NaCl, and some acids such as HCl and HNO3 are examples of strong electrolytes. A few salts (CdI2) and a few acids and bases (acetic acid, ammonia) are weak electrolytes. These substances are only partially dissociated into ions when dissolved in water. Non-electrolytes do not dissociate much at all. Toluene is a non-electrolyte, for example.

To sustain a direct current, some electrode process of oxidation or reduction must occur

With that being said, if you place alot of salt in water, heat it up so that the salt becomes molten. Then place the wires from a light bulb in the water along with the wires from a battery, the light bulb will light up.

 

Dump out an automobile battery