Splitting water sounds as crazy as cutting it with a knife, because it will flow back again together. Here we are talking about splitting water (H2O) into hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) using battery power. This is like operating a fuel cell in reverse. A fuel cell is an important new kind of ‘battery’ that could keep going forever. Provided, that is, it has a steady supply of fuel.
How Fuel Cells Work to Provide a Brighter Future
Fuel cells also have negative terminals, positive terminals, and electrolytes like batteries. If we supply hydrogen (H) to the anode, and air to the cathode, something remarkable happens. A fourth element, a catalyst, splits the hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons.
The electrons create electricity, which travels along a wire through a device to the cathode. While the protons travel through the electrolyte to the cathode, and unite with the oxygen (O) from the air to make heat and water. We can reverse this process by splitting water.
Fuel Cells are Extra Special for the Future
Fuel cells are a better way to make electricity than oil and coal, because oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) are free. Also, this method does not cause air pollution, and it is not as dangerous as nuclear electricity may be. Scientists are still finding ways to turn fuel cells into power stations. We hope that time comes soon.
Now for the Experiment: Splitting Water
If we apply electricity to water (H2O) in a deep bowl using a 9-Volt battery, the negative wire attracts the hydrogen (H) which bubbles to the surface as gas. Meanwhile the positive wire retains the (O) as oxygen bubbles that stay behind. The person who made this video made one mistake. We’ll tell it what this was, after you watch it.
The reference to adding salt in the video is a mistake. This process would create another gas, not hydrogen. The correct electrolyte to use is bicarbonate of soda. Mum will have it in the laundry if she likes her whites extra bright. Dad may ‘borrow’ some occasionally to clean the BBQ grill.
Related
William Robert Grove’s Fuel Cells
Are Hydrogen Fuel Cells Batteries?
Preview Image: Fuel Cell Diagram
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/yPwShC_60mw
