How to Make Hydrogen From Water Electrolysis
Water electrolysis is the separation of liquid water into hydrogen and oxygen gas using electricity. Electrons supplied at one submerged electrode and taken up by another electrode facilitate the chemical reactions to change H2O into H2 and O2. The two gases each bubble up from its own electrode. You can then catch either gas in a submerged, upside-down container before the bubbles escape at the surface.
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Things You'll Need
- Two pieces of insulated copper wire, about 2 feet long each
- Scissors or knife
- Electrical tape
- 9-volt battery
- Bucket
- Beaker or test tube
- Vinegar or lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
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1
Scrape the insulation off the ends of two pieces of copper wire. You don't need any special tool. A knife or scissors will suffice.
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2
Tape one bare end of each wire to each terminal of a 9-volt battery with electrical tape.
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3
Submerge the free ends of the wires in a bucket of water. Gas should bubble off the bare end of each wire as soon as you submerge both bare ends.
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4
Submerge a beaker or test tube right side up so it fills with water. Turn it upside down with the mouth still under water so the water stays in the container. Place the container above the bubbling from the wire connected to the negative (-) terminal of the battery. The container will fill with hydrogen gas.
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Tips & Warnings
Add a dash of lemon juice or vinegar to the water to improve electrical conductivity. This speeds up the bubbling.
Combine multiple batteries in series with extra wires to get a faster bubbling reaction.
Demonstrate to yourself that the gas collecting in the container is hydrogen gas by taking the container out of the water, still upside-down so the gas doesn't escape, and carefully inserting a match to ignite it. The gas will make a popping sound when ignited.
References
- Photo Credit nine volts alkaline battery on table image by JoLin from Fotolia.com
