Bunsen's cell

The Bunsen cell, is a zinc-carbon electric cell (colloquially called "battery") composed of a zinc electrode in dilute sulphuric acid separated by a porous diaphragm from a carbon (graphite) electrode in nitric or chromic acid. This article or section needs additional references or sources. ... An electrode is a conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit (e. ... Sulfuric acid (British English: sulphuric acid), H2SO4, is a strong mineral acid. ... In mechanics, a diaphragm is a sheet of a semi-flexible material, anchored at its periphery, and most often round in shape. ... Graphite (named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789, from the Greek γραφειν: to draw/write, for its use in pencils) is one of the allotropes of carbon. ... The chemical compound nitric acid (HNO3), otherwise known as aqua fortis or spirit of nitre, is a colorless, corrosive liquid, a toxic acid which can cause severe burns. ... In chemistry, chromic acid is a chromium (Cr) compound, yet to be isolated, that would have the formula H2CrO4. ...

The cell is named after its inventor, German chemist Robert Wilhelm Bunsen, who improved upon the Grove cell by replacing Grove's platinum electrode with a much cheaper gas retort carbon. This battery, like Grove's, emitted noxious fumes. Robert Wilhelm Bunsen (31st March, 1811 – 16th August, 1899) was a German chemist. ... Sir William Robert Grove (1811 – 1896) was a British chemist. ... General Name, Symbol, Number platinum, Pt, 78 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 6, d Appearance grayish white Atomic mass 195. ... Graphite (named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789, from the Greek γραφειν: to draw/write, for its use in pencils) is one of the allotropes of carbon. ...

Bunsen used this cell to extract metals from their salts by electrolysis, enabling him to isolate metallic magnesium for the first time. In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a method of separating bonded elements and compounds by passing an electric current through them. ...

External links

• Bunsen "Battery"