How to Build an HHO Hydrogen Generator
Water (H2O) contains two atoms of hydrogen and an atom of oxygen. You can obtain hydrogen from water by subjecting the water to an electrical current. The electricity supplies the energy needed to split the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the water. This process is known as electrolysis and it is a common method of obtaining hydrogen in the laboratory. The equipment required for this experiment is commonly available in a college laboratory and you can also find it in scientific supply stores.
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Sodium hydroxide
- 3 beakers
- Hoffman voltameter
- 2 Test tube holders
- 2 Test tubes
- 2 Rubber hoses
- 9V Battery
Instructions
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1
Prepare an electrolytic solution. Add 1 part sodium hydroxide by weight to 4 parts water by weight and mix thoroughly. Pure water isn't a good conductor of electricity so you need to add something to it that will improve its electrical conductivity.
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2
Obtain a Hoffman voltameter. This is a piece of equipment that consists of three glass tubes that are open at one end. The other ends of these three tubes are connected to each other by a fourth glass tube. A Hoffman voltameter therefore has a "U" shape except it has an additional glass tube in the middle of the "U". A Hoffman voltameter also has an electrode at the bottom of the two side tubes.
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3
Fill a beaker and a test tube with water. Fill the test tube with water and place your thumb over the top. Turn the test tube upside down and place it in the beaker of water. Hold the test tube in place with a test tube holder. Repeat this process with another test tube and beaker.
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4
Attach one end of a rubber hose to the open end of one of the side tubes on the Hoffman voltameter. Put the other end of the rubber hose into one of the test tubes. Connect the other side tube of the Hoffman voltameter to the second test tube in the same manner. Pour the electrolytic solution into the middle tube of the Hoffman voltameter.
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5
Connect the lead to the positive battery terminals with one of the electrodes of the Hoffman voltameter. Connect the lead to the negative battery terminal to the other electrode of the Hoffman voltameter. The bubbles that form on the negative electrode are hydrogen gas and will be collected in the corresponding test tube. The bubbles on the positive electrode are oxygen gas and will be collected in the other test tube.
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