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Grenet battery cell
Grenet battery cell

Grenet battery cell

Date1860-1890
Inventory Number0347
ClassificationBattery
Subject
    Cultural Region
      Dimensions19.5 × 7.5 × 7.5 cm (7 11/16 × 2 15/16 × 2 15/16 in.)
      Material
        DescriptionA globe-shaped bottle with a cylindrical neck forms the battery container. Its metallic cap is linked to two carbon plates. A zinc plate lies between the latter two and slides vertically from the middle rod found on the battery's cap. Two binding posts, which are used to distribute the electricity generated by the battery, are also on the cap.

        This battery generates an E.M.F. of 1.9 volts.
        Signedunsigned
        FunctionThe cell was devised by Johann Christian Poggendorff (1796-1877) in 1842 and established in this form by Grenet in 1856. It was very popular with experimenters for many years because it gave off no fumes.

        The vessel would be half-filled with an acidic electrolyte and the metallic plates could be lowered into it to produce a voltage by the reaction of the electrolyte with the rosa. Two carbon rods and a zinc rod. Electrolyte: sulfuric acid with potassium bichromate. Many of these cells would usually be connected in series to obtain larger voltages.
        ProvenanceFrom the Department of Chemistry, Harvard University.
        Grenet battery cell
        French
        Date: 1860-1890
        Object number: DW0054
        Grenet battery cell
        French
        Date: 1860-1890
        Object number: DW0055
        Grenet battery cell
        French
        Date: 1860-1890
        Object number: DW0056
        Grenet battery cell
        French
        Date: 1860-1890
        Object number: DW0057
        Grenet battery cell
        American
        Date: circa 1880
        Object number: VT4781
        Poggendorff cell, form of Grenet cell
        American
        Date: 1870-1890
        Object number: 0348
        Poggendorff cell
        American
        Date: 1850-1880
        Object number: 0345
        Poggendorff cell
        American
        Date: 1850-1880
        Accessories: companion to 0345
        Object number: 0346
        voltaic cell
        Thomas Hall
        Date: 1850-1870
        Object number: 0349
        Wollaston-type battery plates
        American
        Date: 1820-1850
        Object number: 0354
        du Bois-Reymond-type inductorium
        French
        Date: 1890-1910
        Object number: WJ0139
        du bois-Reymond-type inductorium
        Rudolph Krüger
        Date: circa 1893
        Object number: WJ0055