The term "Bunsen pile" is commonly used to refer to a type of primitive battery or electric cell, often consisting of a stack of alternate copper and zinc plates immersed in a solution of dilute sulfuric acid. This type of cell was commonly used in early experiments in electricity and electrochemistry, and was named for its inventor, the German chemist Robert Bunsen. However, there are a number of alternative names and synonyms for this type of device, including the Bunsen cell, the Daniell cell (after its inventor, the English chemist John Frederic Daniell), and the Grove cell (named for the English physicist William Robert Grove). Science historians and researchers remain interested in exploring the history and properties of these early forms of batteries, which played an important role in the development of modern electrical technology.