Hydrogen 1-2

Periodic Table of the Elements

First of all again, I can not remind you enough that you must wear your goggles no matter how simple experiment seems, accidents do happen. There are 2 parts to this experiment. The first one is for beginners and is relatively safe (experiment 1). The second experiment uses a hazardous chemical and is much for dangerous, When you feel you are careful enough you can continue onto experiment 2, only though once you have successfully completed experiment 1.

Hydrogen Experiment 1

Supplies
-9 volt battery
-2 Alligator Clips with wires (Miniature Jumper Cables)
-2 Nails
-Cup (Not Metal)
-Salt
-Water
-A match

!) Fill your cup with water and stir in a few teaspoons of salt until it is disolved.

2) Connect the jumper cables to your battery, one cable to each terminal.

3) Clip the other side of each cable to one of the nails.

4) Insert each of the electrodes (nails) into the water but make sure they aren't touching or the experiment will not work.

5) As the current flows you should see bubbles coming off each electrode. Hydrogen will bubble up from one electrode while oxygen from the other. You are going to figure out which is which, and I am going to show you how.

6) It's called a flame test. Hydrogen is explosive but in very small grams amounts it will only pop when lit. So make sure the electrodes are far enough apart that the gasses won't be directly mixed. Light a match and hold it over each electrode where the bubbles are hitting the surface of the water. Which ever one pops is your hydrogen and the other one is oxygen. Congratulations, you just decomposed water into hydrogen and oxygen!

Here's a diagram if you don't understand.

What's actually happening?

Chemical Equation:

2H₂0 --------> 2H₂+ O₂

For those of you who have never seen a chemical equation before here's the bare bones. On the left side in the reactant(s) or the beginning chemical(s) while on the right side are the products of the reaction. The arrows means equals or yields. The reason we have numbers or coefficients in front of some of the chemicals is that the equation must be balanced, meaning there must be an equal number of each element on both sides.

This type of reaction is known as a decomposition reaction meaning the chemical decomposes into 2 or more other chemicals. Electrolysis is one of the main tools for decomposition, the other one is heat. The electricity literally pulls the molecules apart.

If your wondering why we put salt in the water this is why. Water on its own pure form will not conduct electricity but with an added electrolyte (salt) this makes the water conductive allowing current to flow.

When you feel you are cautious enough you can continue onto experiment 2.

Hydrogen 2-1