HarveyH42

I get what you have in mind, but all combustion requires oxygen. So I would need to rupture a hydrogen filled balloon before ignition. If the balloon contained both gasses, then it could be set off from inside the balloon. Think it would be a more spectacular reaction. But then again, a spark could be used to pop the balloon and ignite the hydrogen at the same time.

Overclocked

I just increased voltage, how much both the anode and cathode are releasing gas? Before only the cathode is releasing gas.

Heres an Off topic Question:

If I have Aluminum as the cathode and Anode, will I get Aluminum Sludge or Aluminum Oxide. I figure if the anode oxidizes, and the cathode reduces, I can use use graphite as the cathode and put Aluminum on the Anode.

Pommie

A mole of hydrogen/oxygen from electrolysis would weigh,

H2 * 66% * 2 = 1.33g
O2 * 33% * 32 = 10.66g
Total 12g

A mole of air would weigh
N2 * 72% * 28 = 20g
O2 * 28% * 32 = 9g
Total 29g

So H2/O2 mix would lift 17g per mole. A mole of gas is 22Ltr

I think the above is correct.

Mike.

akg

i have done these type of electrolysis long back. and if i remember correctly , you won't get aluminium oxide , but you will get aluminium hydroxide which forms as a white substance.

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Marks256

If you really want large amounts of Hydrogen, then just mix aluminum and lye. You know, the drain cleaner. I have never done this, so PLEASE BE CAREFULL! I know that it is a very quick and effective way to make A LOT of hydrogen, VERY QUICK! You better have a BIG balloon! Seriously, though, this is a fast and simple way to make it.

Overclocked

That doesnt work. I tired it with draino, and AL foil. Nothing. Doesnt even boil, but I used liquid stuff (which is 5% Lye). Ive read I have to use crystal draino (thats atleast 65%)

Marks256

5% is nothing compared to 65%. I would suggest getting the actual brand "Lye". That is what it says on the bottle. If not, i think Hydrogen Peroxide mixed with "Active Yeast" will do the trick. My old science teacher used this method to make her hydrogen, before she thought about buying it in bottles.

Tarsil

Man...aluminium is very reactive but it is very quickly covered with with a chemical inert oxide.

Marks256

You tried it? How much did it put off? If that is the problem, with the chemical covering it, then all you would have to do is cut the aluminum into tiny strips.

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Oznog

Aluminum corrodes fairly rapidly in either an acid OR a base. That pretty much shoots to hell any hope for a productive electrolyte.

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Blueteeth

Hi,

I can't claim to have read every single post in this topic, but I just thought I'd add my little bit. In my experience electrolysis is a pretty slow way to make H2, with pure water and a low voltage (<200). A few things to speed it up:

Add H2SO4 to the water, it souldn't get used up in the reaction (so you can just add more water and you've still got the sulphuric acid in there). This will increase the conductivity of the water, more current flowing for a given voltage.

Increase surface area of electrodes. My chemistry teacher once put Iron rods into accid for a while until they became pittted, then coated them in a silver compound (some cheap jewelery chemical stuff?) so they didn't corrode during the process.

Also, this is unconfirmed, I've never tried it, but apparently, chopped DC can increase the speed of the reaction (much like using ultrasonics). Off the top of my head, in certain 'pseudo-science circles', the frequencies are 600Hz (well not 'hertz, but cps), 610, 12Khz, and 40-42Khz. I did see this process on an episode of 'equinox' on CH4 in the UK, where guy used a small motorbike battery, a circuit, and produced enough H2/O2 to make a small implosive welding flame (3 inches). As I said, unconfirmed, and I haven't seen any evidence for this, so god knows how he actually did it (mains power from hidden cable?).

My £0.02, keelynet has lots of info on this, most of it anecdotal, but interesting none the less.

Good Luck.

Blueteeth

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JayC1990

The guy who posted above me is correct.
Recently (last week) I had to do a chemistry presentation for 10 year olds as a part of my Grade 11 chem course (I'm 16). One part of it involved recombining hydrogen and oxygen (several 10ml measuring cyclinders and 2 larger 25ml cylinders were used) to make a nice bang.
I collected my hydrogen using a power pack supplied by my school. It was kinda slow, out-putting only 30v and 0.5 amps. However, after adding some sulphuric acid to the water, it boosted conductivity to about 2.5-3 amps. Just yesterday I completed modding an ATX powersupply that I will soon be using to power my electrolysis experiments. It's output is 20 amps at 5v, 12 ams at 24v. All i need is some sulphuric acid, and I'm right to start.
My container for the electrolysis is an empty 5L ice-cream container with two steel nails melted through the bottom, and hot glued to make it water tight. It's not perfect, but it does me ok.

JayC

akg

Any low PH acid or solubile ionic compound will accelerate the decomposition .but will chopped DC will again accelerate it?

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akg

Any low PH acid or soluble ionic compound will accelerate the decomposition .but will chopped DC will again accelerate it?

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Blueteeth

I have no idea. As I said, anecdotal evidence was given on keelynet, and I haven't tried this myself. I guess from a theorectical point of view, some form or resonance could be used, I'm pretty sure the bond between hydrogen-oxygen atoms would require large frequencies, probably in the IR spectrum, although, its a very strong bond so it'll be shorter than say, a carbon-hydrogen.

But, the 'hydrogen bond' (a surprisingly strong bond, which is why water is a liquid, when it should be a gas at room temp) which holds molecules together (van de vall forces?) would be much longer, due to its elasticity maybe a standing wave would rip them apart better, giving steam, which is split into h2 and o2 a bit easier. The frequencies given mean nothing to me, just saying what others have said.

All the above is pure speculation, and random idea's. Please don't take it to heart, its probably a waste of text, but it seems no-one has ever tried experimenting with it. And I'm sure one could boost the efficiency of electrolysis of water, but it will never be >100% obviously, which is why hydrogen cars are worse than petrol engines.

My two pence,

Blueteeth.

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