Chemistry
The Significance of the Voltaic Cell in Early Electrochemistry Experiments
Quick fact
The voltaic cell provided the first continuous electric current, enabling the discovery of new elements—sodium, potassium, calcium, and more—through electrolysis, a feat impossible with static electricity.
Why this is interesting
Before 1800, experiments with electricity were fleeting sparks. What if you could hold a steady current in your hands and use it to break apart the very building blocks of matter?