[neilep (OP)]

Dearest Potatologists,

Potatoes are my all time favourite things that mashed and roast potatoes are made from !!...out of the things that make these things..potatoes are my fave and bestest ones !

Look, here's one being a battery:

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

Nice eh ?

Once the potato has used up all it's power could I still eat it ?...what exactly has powered the bulb from the potato ?..would it make for a sour tasting spud ?

I just don't know...I don't !...I asked  Pixie (my girly cat) whilst she was laying some dog eggs in the kitty litter and all she did was scrape the floor with her paw !....I think she was communicating somehow but no answer came !..though I suspect she is very well advanced in sign language !

so, whajafink... ?...can ewe eat a powerless/spent potato ?


ta


Neil
I love the Mash, The Monster Mash !
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[RD]

Zinc and copper salts would be deposited in the potato from the metal electrodes, so I would not eat it if I were you.

BTW a single potato battery is not usually capable of powering an incandescent bulb as depicted in your illustration.

[There are spoof illustrations of what this type of battery can do, e.g. ...

[lightarrow]

...what exactly has powered the bulb from the potato ?

It was not something in the potato, but the chemical energy of the two metals; the potato is just a "connector" for the two metals.

[lyner]

You could have chips and batter(ie)d fish?

[neilep (OP)]

Zinc and copper salts would be deposited in the potato from the metal electrodes, so I would not eat it if I were you.

BTW a single potato battery is not usually capable of powering an incandescent bulb as depicted in your illustration.

[There are spoof illustrations of what this type of battery can do, e.g. ...

Thank ewe RD ...so..no deal on some post-illumination-ingestion-joy then ! ?

Thanks for the links too

[neilep (OP)]

...what exactly has powered the bulb from the potato ?

It was not something in the potato, but the chemical energy of the two metals; the potato is just a "connector" for the two metals.

Thank ewe Lightarrow chum...does this mean I could use a swede or a turnip too....or a parsnip ?

[neilep (OP)]

You could have chips and batter(ie)d fish?

Aye Aye Capn Birdseye !   []

[RD]

...what exactly has powered the bulb from the potato ?

It was not something in the potato, but the chemical energy of the two metals; the potato is just a "connector" for the two metals.

Thank ewe Lightarrow chum...does this mean I could use a swede or a turnip too....or a parsnip ?

Cardboard soaked in brine will do nicely ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaic_pile 

[Karen W.]

...what exactly has powered the bulb from the potato ?

It was not something in the potato, but the chemical energy of the two metals; the potato is just a "connector" for the two metals.

Thank ewe Lightarrow chum...does this mean I could use a swede or a turnip too....or a parsnip ?

Neily..is a swede a type of potato like a sweet potato.... Is it another root vegetable?

I know you do not mean a person haling from Sweden...LOL...LOL..

[Chemistry4me]

A swede:

[Karsten]

Did you ever take a look at one of those spent potatoes? If it looks even close to how apples looks like after being used as batteries, you would not even think about eating one. Disgusting! Black, gray, green, and shriveled up. Weird stuff. Really difficult to describe, but really revolting looking. Not appetizing at all. No way you would eat this.

[Karen W.]

A swede:

Thanks Chem....looks like a turnip?

[Chemistry4me]

I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two. []

[Karen W.]

Me neither! I wonder if they taste much different?

[Chemistry4me]

Turnips are smoother, whiter, smaller but taste stronger than the coarser, rougher, yellow, sweet tasting swedes!

http://stanford.wellsphere.com/gardening-article/the-difference-between-turnips-and-swedes/371693

[Karen W.]

Hey..I have been clicking that link for 30 minutes and it goes to the link then shuts my phone and computer straight down..like a bug or irus.. can you repost the link and let me see if it still does it?

[Chemistry4me]

This is all it says:

The difference between turnips and swedes is obvious when you look at them. Turnips are smoother, whiter, smaller but taste stronger than the coarser, rougher, yellow, sweet tasting swedes!


Swede - Latin name Brassica napus napobrassica

- swedes are an easy vegetable to grow
- crop over a very long time
- can be left in the soil throughout the winter
- withstands heavy frosts when in the ground
- sweet, mild taste
- originated from Sweden
- related to turnips

Turnip - Latin name Brassica rapa

-turnips are a fast growing crop, ready five to eight weeks from sowing to harvesting
-smaller than swedes - usually golf ball size or a little larger
-require a higher level of fertility than swedes because grow faster
-crop earlier than swedes
-cannot stand hard frosts so must be lifted from ground in autumn

[Don_1]

Here's someone who knows all about turnips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a89oCEBC4ok

[Karen W.]

Will check it out!