I know it is possible to separate H2O into H2 and O?

Question

I did it in middle school with two stips of metal in a funky looking beaker with a silcock at the top to collect H above one strip and O2 above the other. The real question is, is there a way to get a seperator to do this with speed on a consistent long term basis? Energy for the process would not be an issue. Has anyone had experience or know anyone who can manufacture one to specifications?

Answer 1

Use dc. Inverted tubes are great for collecting gas, but you might need another system for anything much production value. Don't worry about the flow of electricity. Adding impurities yields impurities in the process. For example, instead of getting H and O2, you might be electroplating one of the electodes and releasing something else. Using table salt would put Na on one electrode and yield Cl at the other. You would then wind up with a mixture of hydrochloric acid instead of the desired result. Higher voltages make the process work faster. Higher voltages are also potentially dangerous. Stay below 24 volts. I would suggest a car battery as a good source. It's higher than I like, but not so much higher that I would not recommend it. Just use caution. If you get much product, you also are in danger of an explosion.
Be careful. Both H2 and O2 are dangerous. Be sure that you know what you are doing.

Answer 2

Use an electrolysis device. One way to do this is to use a 6 volt lantern battery, two wires, two test tubes, and a beaker. Fill the beaker about 2/3 with water. Completely fill each test tube then cover and invert them into the beaker of water taking care to keep the water in the test tubes. Run one wire up into each test tube. Attach each wire to the battery and you should see bubble forming in the test tubes. You may need to add a little vinegar or salt to the water to help the electricity flow through the water better. The test tube with the most gas bubbles contains H2 and the one with the least contains O2.

2 H2O (electricity) --> 2 H2 + 2 O2

Answer 3

Electrolysis would separate Hydrogen from Oxygen. Stick two electrodes near each other in water. Hydrogen starts forming at the cathode and oxygen starts forming at the anode.

Pointers:
Adding salt to the solution will help the electricity flow
Keep the electrodes close together, again help the flow of current
The anode will oxidize rapidly, good luck finding a tough enough material
Use DC power not AC, AC will keep switching your anode to cathode and cathode to anode.
An inverted bottle with water works well to collect your product, the hydrogen and oxygen displaces the water.
Good Luck

Answer 4

Hofmann voltameter

Answer 5

it means 2 hyrogen molecules and one oxygen molecule. And yes, it is possible.

Answer 6

the process is called hydrolosis

Answer 7

impossible