How do you explain to a 10 yr old how hydrogen and oxygen make water?

Question

The child knows that they are elements on the periodic table but that is about all mom can exlplain.

Answer 1

Try this website--it is kid friendly--and mom too!!

www.chem4kids.com


This should take you right to a page about water
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/elements/008_comps.html .

Answer 2

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/split_h2o.html


I think that the reason that you can't find any information on this is because it is not a very safe thing to do. To combine hydrogen and oxygen to make water, you basically have to mix the gases together and light them with a match. Just mixing the gases together isn't enough - you have to do something to get the chemical reaction started. The problem is that this creates a big explosion. I've seen this done as a demonstration by college professors (under very controlled circumstances), but it's really not something that you should try at home. A famous example of a hydrogen/oxygen explosion performed under uncontrolled circumstances is the deadly 1937 explosion of the Hindenburg zeppelin in New Jersey:

Answer 3

I wouldn't try to explain it as if he/she were a child. I think that might only confuse him/her more later when his understanding needs to be replaced with true understand. I would explain to him/her that each element has a different number of electrons on the very outside. And that the way elements are held together is based on how they share these electrons. Hydrogen, because it is in the first column on the periodic table, likes to donate its only electron. Oxygen however, because it is 2 spots to the left of the noble gases (the furthest column to the right), likes to receive two electrons. So, since hydrogen gives one and oxygen accepts two, it takes two hydrogens for every one oxygen to make water. If he/she understands that then you could also try to explain in more detail about valence electrons, covalent vs ionic bonds, and trends in the periodic table (like how carbon accepts 4 electrons, nitrogen accepts 3, oxygen accepts 2 and fluorine accepts 1) which will help later.

Answer 4

Tell the child that hydrogen is a one handed person and oxygen is a two handed person. Since all people like to hold hands, one oxygen holds hands with two hydrogen. The group holding hands has totals different properties than each person alone. This should be simple enough. Of course it ignores ionic and covalent water. Water being one of the few compounds that has both.

Answer 5

Dont do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Theory should only be taught as applicable. You tell a child the nature of matter... then what. You probably had to lie to them about how it works so they could understand... why would you teach lies?
Its just offering a false sense of security and knowledge. Water chemistry is extremely complex and way too misunderstood.

Chemistry should be taught to children by experimentation, and showing them chemistry not telling them chemistry.

Plus what good is it to know that oxygen and hydrogen make water when both you dont even know what oxygen and hydrogen are. You might think you do but I am pretty sure you dont.

Answer 6

Explain how the elements and ions bond together and form substances, like how water is hydrogen and oxygen, or air is carbon and oxygen.

Answer 7

Two hydrogen atoms bond to one oxygen atom and the result is a molecule that looks like a "mickey mouse" which is water.

Answer 8

Give him some sort of baking analogy. Maybe mix flour and water and bake a sort of simple pita bread and explain how you took two unrelated things, mixed them together, added energy (heat), and you got a third completely different thing.