Revisiting the Electric Pickle Demonstration

The electric pickle demonstration has long been used to explore the atomic emission of sodium ions, which emit a brilliant yellow–orange glow. The emission from other metal ions including lithium, potassium, strontium, and barium can also be demonstrated by pickling cucumbers with the corresponding chloride salt. Cucumbers were bleached with hydrogen peroxide, pickled using a 10% salt solution in vinegar, and electrified using a unique device. The pickled cucumbers glowed pink, purple, red, and yellow, respectively. The glowing pickles provided characteristic line spectra when visualized through a diffraction grating. This adaptation of a classic demonstration provides an eye-catching alternative to discharge tubes for classroom discussions of atomic emission and line spectra.Find this demonstration and others in the DigiDemos area of the JCE Digital Library.