Voltaic pile

E82780

The Voltaic pile is the first chemical battery, invented by Alessandro Volta, which provided a continuous and reliable source of electric current and laid the foundation for modern electrochemistry and electrical engineering.

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Observed surface forms (3)

Surface form Occurrences
Volta pile 1
Voltaic battery 1
voltaic pile 1

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf battery
electrochemical cell
historical scientific instrument
advantageOver Leyden jar as continuous current source
alsoKnownAs Voltaic pile
surface form: Volta pile

Voltaic pile
surface form: Voltaic battery
category primary cell
comparedWith Leyden jar
countryOfOrigin Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia NERFINISHED
demonstratedTo Royal Society
surface form: Royal Society of London
doesNotUse rechargeable chemistry
electrodeMaterial copper
zinc
electrolyte brine
salt solution
fieldOfUse electrical engineering education
electrochemistry
experimental physics
hasLimitation corrosion of zinc electrode
leakage of electrolyte
polarization of electrodes
hasPart brine-soaked separator
cardboard disc
copper disc
electrolyte
zinc disc
historicalPeriod 19th century
inception 1800
inspiredWork development of galvanic cells
discovery of electrochemical series
electrolysis experiments by Humphry Davy
inventor Alessandro Volta
namedAfter Alessandro Volta
operatingPrinciple redox reaction between dissimilar metals in electrolyte
outputType continuous electric current
presentedTo Napoleon Bonaparte NERFINISHED
produces direct current
significance first continuous source of electric current
first practical chemical battery
foundation of electrical engineering
foundation of electrochemistry
stackingConfiguration alternating zinc and copper discs
vertical column
typicalVoltagePerCell about 1.1 volts
usedFor chemical decomposition studies
early electrolysis experiments
physiological experiments on nerves and muscles

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Voltaic pile alsoKnownAs Voltaic pile
this entity surface form: Voltaic battery
Voltaic pile alsoKnownAs Voltaic pile
this entity surface form: Volta pile
subject surface form: Alessandro Volta 10000 lire banknote
Alessandro Volta notableWork Voltaic pile
this entity surface form: voltaic pile