How to Make an Oxyhydrogen Generator

Oxygen has long been important for many applications in medicine and industry. With the growth of interest in hydrogen as a fuel for automobiles, an oxyhydrogen generator has great potential for the future. Because both gases are flammable, it takes a lot of equipment to generate oxygen and hydrogen safely in any great quantity. However, here's a safe and simple science experiment you can use to make an oxyhydrogen generator using electrolysis to separate water into its component hydrogen and oxygen.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 6 or 12 Volt battery
• 2 to 4 liter Container
• 2 3-foot lengths Insulated copper wire
• 4 small Alligator clips
• 2 small Test tubes
• 2 Test tube clamps
• 2 to 4 L Water
• 1/2 lb. Table salt

1. Dissolve 200 to 250 grams (about a half pound) of table salt in 2 to 4 liters (or quarts) of warm water. Pure water does not conduct electricity very well, and this experiment works by passing an electric current through water. The salt makes the water conduct electricity better so the experiment works well.

2. Strip about 3 inches of insulation from each end of the copper wires. Wind the bare wire at one end of each wire around an alligator clip, making sure the wire is in firm contact with the metal of the clip. Place the other end of each wire in a test tube, and use an alligator clip to hold it in place.

3. Submerge the test tubes in the salt water to fill them, and then turn them upside down. Take care to make sure the test tubes remain filled with water. Fasten the test tubes in this upside down position to the sides of the water container with the test tube clamps.

4. Attach the other ends of the wires to the positive and negative terminals of the battery, making sure the wires and alligator clips do not touch each other. You will see bubbles start to form inside each test tube.

5. Watch as the bubbles of gas accumulate in each test tube. You'll notice that there is about twice as much gas being formed in the test tube whose wire is attached to the negative terminal of the battery. This is hydrogen gas. The other test tube contains oxygen. The reason for the difference is that hydrogen and oxygen both form molecules of 2 atoms each. But water contains 2 hydrogen atoms for each oxygen atom---so twice as many hydrogen molecules are forming inside the test tube.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not put your hand in the water while the wires are connected to the battery. This is a very safe experiment if performed properly. Because it does involve the use of electricity and water, it should not be done by children without adult supervision. Keep open flames away from the area. Do not use house current for this experiment. That much power would create a serious risk of dangerous electrical shocks.

Resources

• Nmsea.org Science Education

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[shinerunner01]

on 10/23/2009 Would not advise using SALT as it will give off poisonous gases which is not good for your engine or your lungs. For a basic experiment it will be fine just to prove it works, but in mass quantities it poses a very real health hazard.