Human Salt Bridge
Description: Fingers are used in place of a salt bridge in an electrochemical cell. The voltage is produced is almost the same as the standard cell potential.
Source: Journal of Chemical Education – Vol. 67
Year: 1990 Vol. 67 Page: 156
Keywords: Fingers, Electrochemical cell, Voltage, Standard cell potential
Rating: 
Hazard: High
- Acute toxicity hazard – oral, inhalation
- Electric shock hazard
- Aquatic toxicity hazard
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory sensitization
- Skin sensitization
- Germ cell mutagenicity
- Repeated exposure hazard – respiratory system
- Carcinogenicity hazard
Effectiveness: Average
- Somewhat connected to course material
- Secondary observation
- Time to results is low
- Good reliability
Difficulty: Medium
- Use of toxic reagents
- Procedures with intermediate steps to result
- Polarity-dependent
- Experiments in which a display is used
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Absorbent material on hand
- Avoid unintentional exposure to solutions
- Use of UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
- Prevent release of reagents to the environment
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
Class: Electrochemistry, Electrochemistry and Redox Reactions
Division: General, Analytical Chemistry
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