is there any way we can detect hydrogen gas in the air?

Question

I'm extracting hydrogen from water by running electricity through water and it worked but how do I prove that the hydrogen gas is released? is there any chemicals or indications can show that H2 exists in my experiment?

NOTICE that the chemicals or indicators have to be something that I can buy or create otherwise my experiment wouldn't maka sense....

THERE'S MORE....the amount of h2 I extract is NOT a lot....

Answer 1

I agree with PFX however you would need to collect the hydrogen gas in a tube inverted in water. If there is a gas and possible hydrogen evolving from the reaction it will displace the water in the tube. However I would not recommend putting a lit splint in there.

Maybe if you try this. Create a voltaic cell where the stream of gas goes through it. If there is hydrogen present it will change the potential of the system. IE it will change the voltage.

If you have access to instrumentation and chemicals then you can try to take an IR spectrum of a known alkene, then hydrogenate it with the hydrogen and platinum on charcoal. After the reaction you will end up with an alkane. Take an IR spectrum of the resultant product and the carbon double bond band that represents an alkene in an IR spectrum will be gone.

Its a little detailed but thats all I can think of.

Answer 2

For such small amounts of hydrogen that you generate, I do not know how to detect it. But certain doctors of medicine do, and you should contact one. There is a ceretain infection of the stomach wall in many persons by a bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, which causes ulcers. H. pylori generates hydrogen gas, and detecting these small emissions from gases from a person's stomach is a diagnosis of the condition.

Answer 3

Hydrogen is colorless and odorless gas. It is thus very difficult to detect using normal senses (color smell etc). It is very very explosive (remember Hindenberg ?). Basically, you can only confirm through chemical equation (in a home lab with no major equipment) that 2H2O -> 2H2 + O2.

One thing you can try is (careful) by filling into a balloon that will rise on by itself. Again, be careful with explosion potential.

Answer 4

yep there is
just collect the gas in a tube which is upside down (hydrogen is lighter than air so it will move up)
then introduce a lightened splint in the gas.
you will hear a pop sound confirming the presence of hydrogen

Answer 5

hi! take a burning MATCHSTICK towards d area where H2 iz there.
if it burns with a 'pop' sound, then it is H2. if not, then it iz not H2.