Q:
Does lemon juice conduct electricity?
A:
Quick Answer
According to the California Science Center, lemon juice can both conduct and produce electricity. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which is a strong electrolyte. The electrolytes in lemon produce electricity by allowing two metals to react with each other.
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Tim Oram
Oxford Scientific
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Full Answer
The acid in the lemon is dissolved into positive and negative ions in its natural water. When rods of copper and zinc are placed in the lemon, a chemical reaction takes place. Within the lemon, electrons flow from the rod of copper to the rod of zinc, turning the zinc into a negative electrode and the copper into a positive electrode. A single lemon can generate about 7/10 of a volt of electricity.
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