[caramel007]

We have to build an electrochemical cell using household materials.   We have experimented with a number of different chemicals like windex, shout, detergent, etc. but haven't been able to achieve a very significant voltage. Are there materials that will work well as electrolytes or electrodes? How high can the voltage of an electrochemical cell be? Any info would be very much appreciated. THANKS!

[Donaldson Tan]

E_cell is related to dH of a redox reaction. the more exothermic the redox reaction, the more energy you can get from the reaction when you set up the electrochemical cell. the current you get from the electrochemical cell would depend on: 1. the amount of energy released per mole of reaction, 2. the rate of reaction (this decides rate of heat released) 3. surface area of your electrodes 4. concentration of reactant and product species.

The nerst equation relates concentration of the oxidised and reduced species with respect to the  E_cell value. Google for "nerst equation, electrochemistry"