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Electrolyzing of water into hydrogen and oxygen

Hello,

Please I wonder how can we separate water components into hydrogen and oxygen.

Thanks,

Abraham H. [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
univ. student - Amman, Jordan
2003

I suggest to use very, very. very, very, very small tweezers to separate the atoms. (grin)

George Gorecki
- Naperville, Illinois
2003

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Try electrolysis. James Totter, CEF - Tallahassee, Florida 2003 You need a source of dc electricity, such as a car battery, a set of inert electrodes, such as copper. Connect a piece of copper to each terminal on the battery and put their other ends into the water. Gas will come off the ends of the both copper wires. The anode (+ve pole) produces oxygen and the cathode (-ve pole) hydrogen. Do not let the two loose ends of the wires ever touch each other! Trevor Crichton R&D practical scientist Chesham, Bucks, UK 2003

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Hi, Cousin Abraham.

Trevor's advice is fine, but the water must conduct electricity fairly well to allow the electrolysis current to flow at a good rate. Adding salt to the water is one way to do that, but to avoid concern about the possible generation of chlorine gas, it is best to use a salt which is not chlorine based. Sodium sulphate is fine, epsom salt [affil links] (magnesium sulphate is fine), a bit of vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] would help too.

Please look up Faraday's Law of Electrolysis and you will find that there is a specific relationship between how much current flows and how much hydrogen and oxygen will be evolved. One "Faraday", i.e., 96485 ampere-seconds, will release one gram equivalent weight. Best of luck with the project.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
March 6, 2011