| MadSci Network: Chemistry |
The reason why a lemon or apple or potato battery work are well known
(scientifically) and you will learn much more about this when you take a
chemistry class in a few years. Once you learn the details you will be
able to create batteries that produce various voltages. The problem with
using these sources commercially is that they do not produce enough
amperage (hence power) to be useful.
It is not the rind or pulp that make these batteries work. The reason
they work is an interaction between the (acid) liquid and the electrode
materials that you are using. (Incidentally, ascorbic acid is not the
main acid in a lemon.)
John Haberman
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Chemistry.