MadSci Network: Biochemistry
Query:

Re: What is the electrolyte in a potato?

Date: Mon Dec 1 09:52:30 2003
Posted By: Dan Berger, Faculty Chemistry/Science, Bluffton College
Area of science: Biochemistry
ID: 1070133598.Bc
Message:

What is the electrolyte in a potato?
Living tissue (or formerly living tissue) is full of ions; see this previous answer. In most batteries, and especially in liquids or very wet, porous solids (like potatoes), the ions are what conducts the electricity; see this previous answer.

As to the specific electrolytes in a potato, there are certain to be sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and chloride (Cl-) ions present. There are lots of more complex ions also present in living tissue--you may want to consult a biochemistry textbook--but since they can't move as fast as the smaller sodium, potassium and chloride ions, they probably aren't directly involved in conducting electricity.

Dan Berger
Bluffton College
http://www.bluffton.edu/~bergerd



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