Question

Describe an activity to show electrolysis of water is carried out.

Answer 1

Materials

-- 2 small test tubes, 2 small corks, 2 small clamps
--1 large test tube, 1 large cork, 1 large clamp
---2 rubber bands
---2 j-hook style electrodes
--peg board (the old IPS kind)
--600 ml beaker half filled with water and a few drops of sulfuric acid
--Two 12-volt batteries
---3 wires with alligator clips on each end

Procedure

--Attach the two small clamps onto the peg board. Position them over the 600 ml beaker of water level with the rim of the beaker.

---Fill the two small tests tubes with some of the water. Using your thumb or the corks to seal the top of the test tube, invert it under the water. Try not to leave any air bubbles.

--Insert the "J" part of the j-hooks under each test tube beneath the water. Secure them at the top with rubber bands. Clamp the test tubes in place.

--Lower the j-hooks so that electricity can be conducted through the water and not be impaired by the glass of the test tubes. Be sure the electrodes are positioned so that the bubbles will float up and into the tubes.

--Connect your batteries into a series circuit. There should be a complete "circle" of electricity with the water making the connection in the last bit of the circle. Remember that positive poles always connect to negative poles and vice versa.

--You should see bubbles forming and floating up into the test tubes at a good rate. Soon you will be able to see that the hydrogen test tube is filling twice as fast as the oxygen test tube. Why is that?

--When the hydrogen test tube is full of gas, disconnect the battery and test the gases for flammability: oxygen = right side up, glowing splint; hydrogen = upside down, flaming splint.

--Repeat the experiment. This time use one large test tube and put both electrodes under it. Be careful not to let the electrodes touch. An explosion under water can be very messy.

--When the large test tube is full with a 2 to 1 mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gasses, test their flammability using a flaming splint. Hold the test tube upside down and DON’T LET GO, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS!!!!
Hope this helps!