|
Original electrolysis
set up |
At
first they had trouble repeating the experiments. After much
experimentation with different waters and configurations of the
electrodes, they finally perfected their experiments. They discovered that the amount of
hydrogen and oxygen set free by the current was proportional to the
amount of current used. Not only did Nicholson and Carlisle discover how
to produce hydrogen and oxygen, but they ushered in a new field of
electrochemistry. Electrochemistry looks at other products can be
created by using electricity to break bonds.
To split water into its components
requires energy. Electrolysis, or the process that allows
electrical energy to bring about a chemical change, is used to
separate water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.
Water (H2O) will
separate into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen gas (H2)
when electricity is connected to two electrodes and placed in
water. Hydrogen will appear at the cathode and oxygen will appear at
the anode.
The amount
of gases produced is proportional to the chemical formula of water. The
number of hydrogen molecules produced is thus twice the number of oxygen
molecules. A reduction reaction takes placed at the negatively
charged electrode (cathode) and produces hydrogen. An oxidation
reaction occurs at the positively charged electrode (anode) and
produces oxygen. |
