How to Build Hydrogen Oxygen Gas

Bubbles of gas in water

Water is a made up of two gases: hydrogen and oxygen. Two atoms of hydrogen and one molecule of oxygen form a molecule of water. The two gasses separate when a current of electricity is passed between two electrodes immersed in the water. Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity, but its conductivity can be increased by dissolving in it a small amount of table salt. (See Reference 1)

Things You'll Need

• Nine-volt battery
• 2 eight-inch pieces of electrical wire
• 2 large paper clips
• Clear measuring cup
• Water
• Table salt
• Measuring spoon, 1/4 teaspoon
• Knife
• Masking tape

Instructions

1. Pour three-quarters of a cup of water in the measuring cup.

2. Measure a quarter teaspoon of table salt in the water and dissolve it by stirring with the measuring spoon.

3. Remove one inch of the insulation from both the ends of the two wires, using the knife.

4. Twist the end of one of the wires around the long side of a large paper clip. Do the same with the other wire and the other large paper clip.

5. Lower the paper clips into the water so they are completely submerged. Do not let them not touch.

6. Use the masking tape to attach the other end of one of the wires to one of the battery terminals. Repeat with the other wire and the other battery terminal.

7. Observe the stream of bubbles from the paper clips. One paperclip is producing oxygen gas; the other paper clip is producing hydrogen gas.

8. Notice that one of the paper clips is producing more bubbles than the other. Since there is more hydrogen per water molecule than oxygen, there are more bubbles coming off one paper clip than the other. The paper clip making the most bubbles is the one producing hydrogen and the other paper clip is producing oxygen.

Tips & Warnings

• The discoloration of the water is due to the metal of the paper clip reacting with the table salt dissolved in the water.

• Do not collect the hydrogen and the oxygen in the same container and try to ignite it.

• A dangerous explosion could result.

• An adult should supervise this experiment if performed by children.

References

• • PeriodicTable.com: Homemade Hydrogen
• • Personal experience from many chemistry courses. I tried this simple experiment, It works!

Resources

• The Chemistry of Water:The Hydrogen and Oxygen of Water