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Saline molarity and electrical conductivity

Hi, my name is Cameron and I am doing an experiment for my eleventh grade chemistry class on the correlation between saline molarity and electrical conductivity. we need to find a way to power a small city that we built by using a small battery(transformer) and and a small "lake" which to run the electricity from the lake to the city. we are using three types of salt; rock salt, sea salt, and table salt. do you have any clue to which it will turn out?

Cameron O. [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Chemistry student - Madison, Mississippi
January 5, 2011

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First of two simultaneous responses -- January 6, 2011

I am not aware of any "salt battery", but I assume that you have references for one.
Molarity is determined by the amount of salt in solution and thus the speed of getting it there--to an constant value is going to be dependent on temperature, agitation and how fine the salt is (surface area per unit of weight).

You have me curious now, can you provide a bit more on your experiment?

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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Second of two simultaneous responses -- January 7, 2011

Cameron,

Your big clue here is "saline molarity". What do you understand about this term? Once you understand what that really means the rest is easy.

Look up what is in rock salt, sea salt and table salt (you won't be surprised to learn that it is not just sodium chloride). If you then calculate the weight percent of soluble salts in each it'll give you a clue of the solution molarity. From there the rest is just applying a bit of logic to the situation.

Brian Terry
Aerospace - Yeovil, Somerset, UK

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James

I am guessing that the 'lake' is the conduit from the battery (transformer) to the town, and by using the different salts in differing concentrations, will find out which lights up the town the best. Who knows, maybe we should have pipes of salt water instead of copper bussing. LOL

Willie Alexander
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
January 10, 2011