Glowing Pickle
Materials: ★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty: ★★★ Requires a more experienced teacher
Safety: ★★★ Only to be attempted with adequate safety procedures and trained staff
Categories: Electricity, Light, Nuclear Physics
Alternative titles: Electric Pickle
Summary
When an electric current passes through a pickle, ions in the salty brine conduct electricity, exciting sodium atoms that emit a bright yellow glow. This demonstrates ionic conduction, atomic emission spectra, and electrolysis.
Procedure
- Place a pickle on an insulating surface such as a glass jar.
- Insert two metal nails or forks into opposite ends of the pickle, ensuring they do not touch.
- Attach the exposed ends of a lamp cord to the electrodes (using wire wrapping or alligator clips).
- Plug the lamp cord into a variac or into a power strip (in the “off” position), which is connected to an electrical outlet.
- Turn on the power strip or variac.
- Observe as the pickle drips, smokes, and glows—usually yellow from sodium emission.
- Turn off and unplug the setup before handling the pickle.
Links
Electric Pickle - Cool Science Experiment - Sick Science!:
The Glowing Pickle - Manitoba Museum:
📄 Glowing Pickle or Electric Pickle Experiment - Science Notes: https://sciencenotes.org/glowing-pickle-or-electric-pickle-experiment/
Variations
None
Safety Precautions
- This is an “adults only” experiment—never allow children to handle the electrical setup.
- Only teachers trained in the handling of mains power should perform the experiment.
- Use a power strip with a switch for safe shut-off.
- Do not touch the pickle or electrodes while power is on.
- Perform in a well-ventilated area due to possible smoke and gas release.
- Never eat the pickle after electrifying it.
Questions to Consider
- Why does the pickle glow yellow? (Excited sodium ions emit photons at a characteristic yellow wavelength.)
- What role do the electrodes play? (They conduct electricity into the pickle, enabling electrolysis and ion excitation.)
- Why can electricity pass through the pickle? (Saltwater brine conducts electricity due to dissolved ions.)
- How is this similar to a flame test in chemistry? (Both reveal element-specific emission spectra.)
- What modern technology is this experiment related to? (Organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs, used in displays.)