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Electromotive Force and Current
5E20.10 - Electrolysis of Water with a Bang

5E20.10 - Electrolysis of Water with a Bang




Objective: Demonstrate that the ratio of H:O in water is 2:1.

Operation Information

Operation Steps
1   Note the apparatus: two connected burettes connected across a high voltage power supply.
2   Make sure the burettes are closed at the top (to capture the gas) and turn on the power supply (25V for expedient results)
3   Allow to run for ~20 minutes, then note the accumulated gas at the top of the burettes
4   If you want to explode the remnant gas, connect the burettes to a preform bottle filled with water via a tube.
5   Evacuate the water by filling the bottle with each gas (evacuate half with oxygen, then the other half with hydrogen)
6   Quickly cap the bottle with the piezo-spark cap, then mount the preform bottle behind a sheild.
7   Click the piezo-sparker and watch the gas explode.
8   There should be remnant water from the event.
Instructions

The preform tube has a capacity of ~36cc. When the hydrogen and oxygen gas products are enough to fill the tube, you can stop the reaction and fill the tube.

Note: The sulfuric acid solution runs more quickly than the baking soda soln.

Note: 2:1 gaseous H2:O2 produces a much bigger bang than ~1:1. Instruct student to cover their ears.




Preview Time: 10


Operation Time: 15 minutes
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