Voltaic pile
Pila voltaica
- Date
- 1800 · confidence high
- Place
- Como (University of Pavia), Lombardy, Italy
- Credited to
- Alessandro Volta
- People
- 👤 Alessandro Volta de la Rosse1745–1827
- Field
- Matter & energy
What it is
A stack of zinc and copper discs separated by brine-soaked card, producing a continuous electric current. The first source of sustained electricity and the origin of electrochemistry.
Announced in a letter to the Royal Society (March 1800); Volta worked at Pavia and lived in Como.
What it led to
- The electrolysis of water (Nicholson and Carlisle, 1800) and the discovery of new elements (Davy)
- Electromagnetism (Ørsted, 1820)
- The electric telegraph and electroplating
- The unit 'volt'
Built on
- Leyden jar1745-1746
- Zinc1746
- Electrophorus1775
- Animal electricity (Galvani)1780-1791
- Galvani's experiments with frogs (1780s)
Made possible
- Electrolysis of water (Nicholson and Carlisle)1800
- Electric arc (Petrov and Davy)1802-1809
- Salvà's electrolytic telegraph1795-1804
- Potassium1807
- Sodium1807
- Calcium1808
- Magnesium1808
- Zamboni dry pile1812
- Letter-based chemical symbols and formulas1813
- Biot–Savart law1820
- Electric motor1821-1834
- Electromagnet1824-1825
- Ohm's law1827
- Electromagnetic induction1831
- Daniell cell1836
- Hot-dip galvanizing1836-1837
- Electric telegraph1837
- Electroplating and electrotyping1838-1840
- Lead-acid rechargeable battery1859
- Leclanché cell1866
- Arc lamp