Simple Electrolysis School Experiment

Yesterday we wrote about hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells. We imagined how they might turn the energy world around, and do away with toxic fossil fuels forever. Today, we thought it would be interesting to understand the process of electrolysis behind the project better. In the case of water, this is the separation of hydrogen and oxygen in H₂0. We have a simple electrolysis school experiment to illustrate how this works.

Materials for a Simple Electrolysis Experiment at School

This is a great experiment because the materials are so easy to obtain. You may even find them in your school lab, but do remember to ask the teacher first. For our simple electrolysis school experiment, you will need:

Some water and some table salt, or epsom salts
Two identical new pencils sharpened at both ends
A drinking glass, or any other transparent container
A fresh 9-V battery still well within its sell-by-date
Two insulated wires with crocodile clips at both ends

Now Let’s Do This Simple Electrolysis School Experiment

First, pour some water in the drinking glass or other transparent container, making sure a good one-inch length of each pencil stands out above the liquid. Next, use the electric wires to connect each battery terminal to one graphite pencil tip. Now, hold the other tips nearby each other and hear the electricity crackle. Because we can hear this, we know the connections are live!

Now, add the salt (or epsom salt), and dip those two pencil ends into the water making sure they do not touch. Imagine the electrons flowing under water between them. You will have scientific evidence of this when bubbles start appearing at the pencil tips almost immediately, because you completed an electric circuit. If this does not happen, check the crocodile clip connections and try again. Try adding more salt to increase the bubble flow.

Here is a second neat video of a slightly different version of this simple electrolysis school experiment. The kid explains everything so nicely we have nothing more to add! We hope you enjoyed this project. And that we will see you back here again real soon.