Hydrogen Production through Electrolysis

Hydrogen Production through Electrolysis is a very easy way to produce very pure hydrogen gas. Remember that this is the description of an experimental setting, and the products of this of this exercise are highly flammable and explosive. Be sure to take adequate safety measures when you are trying it out. Or even better go for an experimental fuel cell kit. <<<< Aflink>>>>

You need two Carbon Rods, One Teaspoon Baking Soda, One Bowl of Distilled Water

The idea behind the production of hydrogen gas from water is obvious. The chemical equation for water is H2O meaning it consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. When we want to unleash the hydrogen and oxygen atoms from water, some action is needed. Action is Reaction and staring at a glass of water won't do the trick.

Separation of The Hydrogen and Oxygen Atoms

Electrolysis is an effective way to separate the Hydrogen or H atoms from the O or Oxygen. Running an electrical current through this glass of water is all it takes to get the job done. Because we want a pure hydrogen and oxygen gas we must use non-corrosive electrodes. For our purpose we use carbon.

How to get Carbon Sticks

Carbon sticks are not hard to come by. Take a D size battery and open the tin casing with a hacksaw. Be careful not to spill the acidy contents all around the experimentation area and wear protective gloves. In the middle of the casings you will find the round carbon rods we are after.

Clean them fill a bowl with distilled water hang the rods at opposite ends in the water and apply an electric DC current. To be safe use a 9V battery, never experiment with grid connected power supplies. Now what do we see happening, right nothing. We need some stuff that helps the current pass through the water. Baking Soda will do the trick.

Baking Soda to improve the waters conductivity

Add some baking soda and see magic happening. At the minus side or Cathode we see twice as many bubbles forming as at the plus or Anode. This is to be expected. For every two atoms of hydrogen one atom of oxygen is produced.

There you are you have build your own experimental hydrogen production plant, and are on your way to start thinking about fuel cell technology. Fuel Cell technology is both fascinating and an eye opener for economical opportunities. A well designed experiment kit is one of the most convenient ways to start off in this area. This could be an investment with an exceptional high yield.

Besides the application of fuel cells it's nice to know that you have also uncovered the secret behind many run "your car on water" ideas. Hydrogen gas and Oxygen mixed in a two to one ratio is called Ox hydrogen or HHO. This is a very explosive mixture, use extreme caution when you try this. You now also see the limitation of running your car on water this way. Namely we have to apply energy to produce the "fuel" for our vehicle. Therefore Hydrogen is not really a fuel in the sense of Gasoline or the Sun but an energy carrier like electricity.

Another interesting fact that it worth mentioning is that the system we just described was once used as an electricity meter for DC supplies. The so called Hoffman Apparatus. This device puts the fact that the more energy flows through the system the more Hydrogen is produced. At the end of the day the amount of hydrogen was the measure for your energy bill.

Hydrogen Production through Electrolysis is an easy way to produce a very pure form of hydrogen. When you use it as an addition to a renewable energy production unit like a PV system or wind generator it has great possibilities as storage medium. A fuel cell can use the produced hydrogen when the other systems are not producing enough energy to satisfy demand.