Sciencemadness Discussion Board

My half-assed electrolysis tank

lordcookies24 - 6-1-2019 at 16:29

I just made a electrolysis tank from a water bottle and pencils

[Edited on 7-1-2019 by lordcookies24]

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lordcookies24 - 6-1-2019 at 16:35

Graphite is a good electricity conductor so I used it as an electrode

ninhydric1 - 6-1-2019 at 16:45

Are you making HHO gas with it?

lordcookies24 - 6-1-2019 at 17:00

Quote: Originally posted by ninhydric1  
Are you making HHO gas with it?


If you mean hydrogen and oxygen then yes

XeonTheMGPony - 6-1-2019 at 17:15

just add brine then you can make chlorine and hydrogen

How I used to make my own HCl but that is tad more complex operation



[Edited on 7-1-2019 by XeonTheMGPony]

elementcollector1 - 6-1-2019 at 17:17

I hope that cap on top isn't pressurizing...

lordcookies24 - 6-1-2019 at 17:29

Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  
just add brine then you can make chlorine and hydrogen


I actually used sodium bicarbonate as an electrolyte to avoid making chlorine

XeonTheMGPony - 6-1-2019 at 17:31

Quote: Originally posted by lordcookies24  
Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  
just add brine then you can make chlorine and hydrogen


I actually used sodium bicarbonate as an electrolyte to avoid making chlorine


KOH is the normal one used for most commercial ones.

Sulaiman - 6-1-2019 at 17:57

have you collected hydrogen or oxygen (not the mixture) yet ?
made the hydrogen go POP, and re-light something with oxygen ?
(because I smoke I like to show a cigarette in (almost) pure oxygen,
some things cam burn VIOLENTLY so take care (or keep trying ;)
old school but still fun.

lordcookies24 - 6-1-2019 at 18:00

Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  
Quote: Originally posted by lordcookies24  
Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  
just add brine then you can make chlorine and hydrogen


I actually used sodium bicarbonate as an electrolyte to avoid making chlorine


KOH is the normal one used for most commercial ones.


But it’s definitely not the most available one. I can’t find potassium hydroxide in any store or pharmacies

XeonTheMGPony - 6-1-2019 at 18:06

Quote: Originally posted by lordcookies24  
Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  
Quote: Originally posted by lordcookies24  
Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  
just add brine then you can make chlorine and hydrogen


I actually used sodium bicarbonate as an electrolyte to avoid making chlorine


KOH is the normal one used for most commercial ones.


But it’s definitely not the most available one. I can’t find potassium hydroxide in any store or pharmacies


Go and check out supplement / health shops, I find it ironic the sheer number of chemicals you can find there, citric acid, gelitins, 35% peroxide KOH, NOH, Glycerin

Sulaiman - 6-1-2019 at 18:18

I think that sodium bicarbonate is a perfect choice;
. no chemophobia
. no strong caustic solutions
. no halogens

Commercially a highly conductive electrolyte is used for efficiency,
not the primary concern when using a 9V battery and tiny graphite electrodes..

unionised - 7-1-2019 at 02:52

KOH attacks PET bottles.

draculic acid69 - 7-1-2019 at 03:52

Quote: Originally posted by unionised  
KOH attacks PET bottles.[/rquote

Does KOH solution eat PET bottles or are you talking about solid KOH attacking it?

fusso - 7-1-2019 at 05:35

Quote: Originally posted by draculic acid69  
Quote: Originally posted by unionised  
KOH attacks PET bottles.[/rquote

Does KOH solution eat PET bottles or are you talking about solid KOH attacking it?
Both, they contain OH- which can attack PET.

woelen - 7-1-2019 at 05:52

With NaHCO3 the conductivity of the solution will be very low. NaHCO3 is not strongly soluble, you end up using quite dilute solutions and hence you have low currents. Use of NaOH also is an option. NaOH is easier to find locally than KOH in most countries, as solid drain cleaner. NaOH is corrosive and attacks PET, just as KOH does.
Use of dilute (e.g. 10% H2SO4) also works quite well and that does not attack PET as quickly as KOH/NaOH does.

Use of NaHCO3 has an added complication. At the anode you will get a mix of CO2 and O2. You will get acid as a result of electrolysis and this will form CO2 with the NaHCO3:

Electrolysis will take away electrons at the anode. These electrons will come from water molecules:
2 H2O - 4e --> 4H(+) + O2

The H(+) then forms acid with remaining water and this in turns reacts with the HCO3(-) ion to form H2CO3 and hence H2O + CO2. Part of the CO2 will dissolve in the solution, but if you try to get a high concentration of NaHCO3 (and you try, because otherwise your electrolysis is REALLY slow) then CO2 is nearly insoluble and it escapes together with the O2.

You can alleviate the problem of formation of CO2 quite well by adding a little Na2CO3 to the solution as well. This makes the solution somewhat alkaline and this makes CO2 much more soluble and may even prevent the formation of CO2 at all.

But in general, if you want O2 and H2, then it is best to use either:
- NaOH or KOH, you can even use copper anode in this case, but you need a glass bottle
- dilute H2SO4
- concentrated solution of NaHSO4 (this is sold in nearly every part of the world as so-called pH-minus for swimming pools).

Abromination - 7-1-2019 at 16:03

Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  

Go and check out supplement / health shops, I find it ironic the sheer number of chemicals you can find there, citric acid, gelitins, 35% peroxide KOH, NOH, Glycerin

NOH? You mean NaOH or is 'N' supposed to be a variable?
Also I do hope you have a tube leading out of that bottle cap...

[Edited on 1-8-19 by Abromination]

XeonTheMGPony - 7-1-2019 at 16:20

Quote: Originally posted by Abromination  
Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  

Go and check out supplement / health shops, I find it ironic the sheer number of chemicals you can find there, citric acid, gelitins, 35% peroxide KOH, NOH, Glycerin

NOH? You mean NaOH or is 'N' supposed to be a variable?
Also I do hope you have a tube leading out of that bottle cap...

[Edited on 1-8-19 by Abromination]


Good catch