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DIY STEM Project– Water Electrolysis

Water into Hydrogen - Making a Simple Hydrogen Generator!

Can you produce Hydrogen and Oxygen at home💡?

Introducing The Dad's Lab's latest DIY innovation – Making a Simple Hydrogen Generator!

Electrolysis of Water: Hydrogen production

This diagram shows the process of the electrolysis of water, which uses an electric current to split water (H2O) into hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2).

Things you need:

• Flask or Container 

• Two electrodes (Graphite pencils or Ni Mesh)

• Two connecting Cu wires

• Electrolyte - NaCl or KOH 

• 9 V Battery 

Water Electrolysis Procedure

1. Take some water in a flask or glass container.

2. Add two teaspoons of common salt to the water and mix well until it dissolves completely.

3. Connect two wires to two separate electrodes.

4. Carefully place the electrodes into the salt water. Make sure that the two electrodes do not touch each other.

5. Connect the other ends of the wires to a battery.

6. As soon as the circuit is completed, the electrolysis reaction will begin, and gas bubbles will form at the electrodes.

7. The gases produced are primarily hydrogen at the cathode and oxygen at the anode, although using salt water can also produce chlorine-containing products at the anode.

Observation:
Bubbles of gas are produced at both electrodes, demonstrating the process of electrolysis.

Key Components

• Cathode (Negative Electrode): Connected to the negative terminal (-). Hydrogen gas (H2) collects here.

• Anode (Positive Electrode): Connected to the positive terminal (+). Oxygen gas (O2) collects here.

• Chemical Reaction:  2H2O → 2H2 + O2

The volume of hydrogen produced is always twice the volume of oxygen because water contains two hydrogen atoms for every one oxygen atom.

Safety note: Salt-water electrolysis can produce chlorine and other irritating chemicals. For a school demonstration, using a suitable electrolyte such as dilute sodium sulfate or KOH is safer than common salt, with appropriate adult supervision. 

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